News

Rare Disease Day at NIH, organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and taking place on March 1, will feature panel discussions, patient stories, research updates, TED-style talks, and a presentation by a Nobel laureate recently recognized for her work on a gene editing tool. The free, virtual…

People with rare disorders have a worse healthcare experience than those affected by chronic diseases, according to the results of an international survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. Indeed, rare disease patients overall give their healthcare experience a medium-low rating, of 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5,…

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has launched its 39th annual #MDAShamrocks campaign — the largest St. Patrick’s fundraiser in the U.S. — aiming to raise money and awareness about muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular disorders. During February and March, thousands of retailers across the country will invite their…

By deleting the Mss51 gene, scientists were able to reduce fatigue, increase endurance, and ease mitochondrial impairment in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Mss51 is a gene that provides instructions to make a skeletal muscle protein specifically found in mitochondria, the small cell compartments responsible for…

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) has received an award of more than $100,000 from the Duchenne Research Fund to address neurobehavioral care in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). “We are pleased that the Duchenne Research Fund has partnered with PPMD to support this vital research and tackle…

Scores of virtual events are afoot around the world to mark Rare Disease Day 2021 on Feb. 28. The activities are focused on heightening awareness about rare diseases and the hundreds of millions of individuals they are thought to affect. Patients, caregivers, and advocates worldwide will sport denim ribbons…

Treatment with Translarna (ataluren) increased levels of the protein dystrophin in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) caused by nonsense mutations, new clinical trial data show. The findings were presented in a webcast by Stuart W. Peltz, PhD, the CEO of PTC Therapeutics, which…

Mild to moderate isometric leg exercise — contractions of a particular muscle or group of muscles — is safe and improves muscle strength and functional ability in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who are able to walk, a study suggests. The study, “Safety, feasibility, and efficacy of…

While progress was made last year on newborn screening and other policy issues critical to rare disease patients, a “State Report Card” argues that many concerns — notably out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines and access to affordable comprehensive care — still need attention. Those were the findings of the…

In the first year since Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) and Thread launched a mobile app aimed at making participation easier, engagement in the Duchenne Registry — a newly revamped, 12-year-old network of patient-powered data — increased more rapidly than ever before, the non-profit reported. From November…