Lindsey Shapiro, PhD,  science writer—

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…

The experimental gene therapy RGX-202 has been found to be well tolerated at a high dose, with biomarker data indicating it is working as designed to increase production of the microdystrophin protein in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). That’s according to updated interim findings from the ongoing…

A low dose of PGN-ED051, PepGen’s investigational exon 51-skipping therapy, safely increased dystrophin protein levels in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to early Phase 2 clinical trial data. The therapy’s effects either were comparable to or greater than what has been observed in studies of…

Pfizer has discontinued development of fordadistrogene movaparvovec, its investigational gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), after recent Phase 3 trial data indicated a failure to improve motor function in boys with the neuromuscular disease. Patients who have already received the gene therapy in the CIFFREO…

A pair of identical twins with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) were found to have different deficits in social cognition that corresponded with differing patterns of brain tissue loss on MRI scans, a case report shows. Researchers believe the findings highlight that, while genetic factors can contribute to brain development,…