Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Steve holds a PhD in biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada. As a medical scientist for 18 years, he worked in both academia and industry, where his research focused on the discovery of new vaccines and medicines to treat inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases. Steve is a published author in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and a patented inventor.

Articles by Steve Bryson

Multiple factors affect CK-MM blood test for DMD

Various factors influenced the results of the creatine kinase-MM (CK-MM) blood test used to screen infants for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to a large study. Factors that affected CK-MM levels included age at blood sample collection, gestational age, birth weight, sex, ethnicity, and seasonal temperature, data showed. Newborn…

New blood biomarkers better reflect motor performance in Becker MD

In people with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), both an elevated creatine-to-creatinine ratio and lower myostatin muscle protein levels in the bloodstream are associated with worse motor performance, a study reported. These two potential biomarkers predicted current functional abilities when combined with age but not disease progression over four years. Both…

Microdystrophin gene therapy can prevent heart damage in DMD mice

Microdystrophin gene therapy effectively maintained long-term heart function in a mouse model of severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a study has found. The treatment prevented scar formation and inflammation in heart tissue, and maintained normal heart function over 18 months. These findings support the ongoing clinical trials evaluating…

FDA grants orphan drug, rare pediatric status for DYNE-251

DYNE-251, an investigational therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), has received orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Orphan drug status is meant to support the development of therapies for rare conditions affecting less than 200,000 people in the U.S. It…

Nanoparticles Help Deliver Treatment in DM1 Cell Study

The approved antiparasitic medicine pentamidine, loaded into biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles, successfully eased signs of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) in cell-based models, a study shows. The researchers noted that these findings show the potential of nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic agents to treat muscle cells in people with DM1…

AOC 1001 Eases Symptoms of DM1, Early Clinical Trial Data Show

Treatment with AOC 1001 eased myotonia, when muscles are unable to relax after a contraction, in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), according to early data from the Phase 1/2 MARINA clinical trial. MARINA data also showed — in all treated participants — AOC 1001 was successfully delivered…

Bone Biomarkers Maintained With Vamorolone Over Prednisone: Study

Vamorolone, an investigational therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), maintained biomarkers of bone formation and turnover compared to prednisone, according to the now published details of the VISION-DMD study. Standard anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, such as prednisone, have been shown to stunt growth with long-term use. Vamorolone is a…