Andrea Lobo,  —

Andrea Lobo is a Science writer at BioNews. She holds a Biology degree and a PhD in Cell Biology/Neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. She was a postdoctoral and senior researcher at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health in Porto, in drug addiction, studying neuronal plasticity induced by amphetamines. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals. She shifted towards a career in science writing and communication in 2022.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

Enrollment complete in Phase 3 trial of losmapimod for FSHD

Fulcrum Therapeutics has completed patient enrollment for its Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating losmapimod as a potential treatment for people with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). The study, dubbed REACH (NCT05397470), is evaluating the efficacy and safety of losmapimod against a placebo in FSHD adult patients across…

‘Fill the Boot’ campaign raising funds for MDA

More than 420 “Fill the Boot” events will raise money throughout Labor Day weekend to advance research and care for muscular dystrophy. The campaign results from a partnership between the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). The firefighters go to…

FDA gives priority review to oral givinostat in treating DMD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and given priority review to Italfarmaco Group’s application requesting that oral givinostat be approved to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Priority review, which shortens the consideration period to six months from 10, is given to therapies with…

FDA approves Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of BB-301 for OPMD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Benitec Biopharma to start a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of the investigational gene therapy BB-301 for swallowing difficulties associated with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). Dosing is expected to start later this year, following the rollover of participants in…

Certain stem cells may offer benefits for DMD treatment: Early study

Stem cells derived from the amniotic membrane of pregnant women after childbirth “could provide therapeutic benefits” for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to researchers in Japan. These stem cells, known as human mesenchymal stromal cells, were able to delay DMD progression and preserve muscle function in a…

AB-1003 gene therapy for LGMD wins EU orphan drug designation

The European Commission (EC) has granted orphan drug designation to AB-1003, an investigational gene therapy for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I/R9 (LGMD 2I/R9), being developed by Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio). This designation is given to therapies for life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases — those affecting no more than five…

GIVI-MPC earns FDA orphan drug designation to treat DMD

GIVI-MPC, a stem cell therapy to create new muscle in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), has been designated an orphan drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Orphan drug status encourages the development of therapies for rare diseases — those affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.

Muscle MRI Correlates With FSHD Children’s Functional Measures

Whole-body muscle MRI correlates with functional measures in children with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and might help evaluate disease severity, according to a study. “This study demonstrates that MR muscle imaging is a potential biomarker of disease staging in pediatric FSHD,” the researchers wrote in “Correlation between whole body…