News

Households caring for DMD patients face high costs: US survey

Households incur substantial costs to accommodate people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to a survey of patient caregivers in the U.S. Costs, such as those for purchasing and/or modifying an accessible vehicle, relocating to or building an accessible home, modifying home entrances, and buying medical equipment, were particularly…

Disease progression reflected by blood protein signature: Study

Researchers identified a unique protein signature in the bloodstreams of adults with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) that significantly differs from healthy individuals after exercise. “We propose that a subset of circulating proteins may be more indicative of disease progression and/or therapeutic efficacy than…

Duvyzat conditionally approved by EC to treat Duchenne MD

The European Comission has conditionally approved Duvyzat (givinostat) to be taken alongside corticosteroids for treating people who are 6 and older with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). “This milestone means that a broad range of patients with DMD have access to a new treatment,” Francesco De Santis, president of…

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…

FDA grants orphan drug status to ISX9-CPC for heart issues in DMD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to ISX9-CPC, IPS Heart’s experimental stem cell therapy for heart problems in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the company announced in an email sent to Muscular Dystrophy News Today. This FDA designation aims to accelerate the development…