José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Three new animal-model tests of a potential gene therapy for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), known as BB-301, are planned, Benitec Biopharma announced. Results are expected to support a request for a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients. OPMD results from a faulty PABPN1 gene, leading to a protein…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track designation to suvodirsen as a treatment for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The agency’s decision — which will expedite the review process for suvodirsen — was based on experimental and preclinical data demonstrating the treatment’s…

BBP-418, an oral treatment candidate for patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I (LGMD2I), is being developed by ML Bio Solutions, a new subsidiary of BridgeBio Pharma, the company has announced. BridgeBio intends to start a natural history study by…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated a marketing authorization application for Puldysa (idebenone) for treating respiratory dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients who do not take glucocorticoids. This means that the submission, which was made as a conditional marketing authorization (potentially granted to therapies whose immediate benefit…

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) may be caused by previously unidentified TTN gene variants that are also associated with heart muscle disease, according to a study. Findings of the study, “Investigation of TTN variants in patients with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy identifies novel Titinopathies,” were presented by…

A protein called epidermal growth factor (EGF) can help preserve muscle strength and increase muscle regeneration in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a finding that may pave the way for new treatment strategies for DMD, researchers said. The study, “EGFR-Aurka Signaling Rescues Polarity and…

Audentes Therapeutics is expanding its pipeline of potential molecular therapies, expecting to address 80% of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and all with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The treatment strategy, called vectorized exon skipping, uses a modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver…

Using a genetic engineering tool to restore dystrophin while raising levels of utrophin, a similar protein, leads to better improvements in muscle function than either approach alone, research in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) reports. The study, “The potential of utrophin and dystrophin…

All three children with limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E (LGMD2E) treated with the investigational gene therapy MYO-101 in a clinical trial showed marked production of beta-sarcoglycan, the missing protein in the disease, according to Sarepta Therapeutics. LGMD2E, also known as beta-sarcoglycanopathy, is caused by mutations in the SGCB gene,…

The investigational treatment edasalonexent was well-tolerated, led to no safety issues, and blocked a crucial muscle disease protein in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to part 1 results of a Phase 1/2 trial. The study, “Phase 1 Study of Edasalonexent (CAT-1004), an Oral…