Lindsey Shapiro, PhD,  science writer—

Capricor Therapeutics’ investigational therapy deramiocel, formerly CAP-1002, which is being considered for approval in the U.S., continued to show an ability to preserve upper limb function in boys and men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) over the long term. That’s according to analyses of about five years…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is seeking participants for its survey-based study Living Rare, which aims to better understand the real-world lived experiences of people in the U.S. with rare diseases. Living Rare, the first large-scale study of its kind in the U.S., seeks to capture the…

The investigational therapy DYNE-101 worked as expected and led to functional improvements for people with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) in a clinical trial, according to an update from developer Dyne Therapeutics. The Phase 1/2 ACHIEVE trial (NCT05481879) will now enroll a new group of participants…

A gene-editing therapy designed to correct a defect in the DYSF gene — one that’s associated with a form of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, or LGMD — was found to restore dysferlin protein levels and help regenerate muscle tissue in a mouse model of the disease. The researchers are now seeking…

Arrakis Therapeutics’ investigational RNA-targeted small molecule (rSM) therapies were found to work as intended in preclinical studies and eased symptoms in a mouse model of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The company presented the findings at the Cell Symposia: Chemical Biology in Drugging the Undrugged conference, held earlier…

A single low dose of the investigational gene therapy BB-301 helped with swallowing for the first two people with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) treated in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial, according to an update from the therapy’s developer, Benitec Biopharma. Trial findings to date, which include reasonable…

Treatment with exon 53-skipping therapy WVE-N531 led to significant increases in muscle dystrophin levels along with signs of improved muscle health and regeneration in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). That’s according to new six-month interim data from the Phase 1b/2a FORWARD-53 trial (NCT04906460), which also found…

Capricor Therapeutics will soon begin filing an application seeking U.S. approval of its cell therapy deramiocel for cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart’s muscle, in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Following recent meetings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Capricor will file a rolling…

Up to a year of treatment with DYNE-251, Dyne Therapeutics’ investigational exon 51-skipping therapy, led to improvements in motor function for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to a clinical trial update. Based on these positive data from the Phase 1/2 DELIVER clinical trial (NCT05524883), Dyne…

A little over a year ago, neurologist Sarah Wright administered Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) to then 5-year-old Hiram Secrist, making him the first Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patient to receive the gene therapy outside of a clinical trial. Elevidys became the first and only gene therapy available for DMD…