Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

FSHD patients sought for first clinical trial testing EPI-321

Enrollment is now ongoing in a first-in-human trial testing EPI-321, an epigenetic therapy designed to address the root cause of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a disease type in which symptoms like muscle weakness typically become apparent by adulthood. The Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT06907875) is expected to enroll…

Elevidys shipments for ambulatory DMD patients to resume

Note: This story was updated July 30, 2025, to include data from part two of the EMBARK trial. Sarepta Therapeutics will soon resume shipping Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) for ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, following a review of safety data by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),…

Viral vector in LGMD2E gene therapy gets new FDA designation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted platform technology designation to the viral vector used in SRP-9003, an investigational gene therapy for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E (LGMD2E). “This is one of the first programs to receive platform technology designation and an important recognition by FDA of…

Pepgen pulls plug on exon-skipping therapy for Duchenne MD

Following lackluster data from a Phase 2 clinical trial, Pepgen will discontinue developing PGN-ED051, its experimental exon 51-skipping therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The company said it will wind down all DMD-related research and development activities, focusing instead on an investigational therapy for myotonic dystrophy type…

CureDuchenne invests in new redosable DMD gene therapy

CureDuchenne is investing $1 million in Entos Pharmaceuticals to support the development of a new gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) that aims to overcome the limitations of existing gene therapies. “This investment underscores our continued use of venture philanthropy to catalyze progress [toward] transformative treatments…

DMD gene therapy Elevidys wins conditional approval in Japan

Note: This story was updated May 19, 2025, to clarify the requirements needed for Elevidys to transition to full approval. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) has conditionally approved the gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) to treat some cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The…