People with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who are treated with Exondys 51 (eteplirsen) live significantly longer than would be expected without the treatment, by a median of more than five years, according to a new analysis. The longest survival times were generally seen among patients who started on…
Nebraska does have big cities. Well, it has two big cities. And the truth is that Omaha, our largest, is smaller than places like Denver, Los Angeles, and New York. If you have not read my column before, we live in Nebraska, a rural state in the middle of…
Researchers are planning to enroll a new group of patients in a natural history study to collect data about how Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) progresses and affects a person’s life. Natural history studies don’t test an experimental therapy, but instead work to collect detailed information on how a disease…
Having just moved to Pittsburgh from rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania, one of the many things I had to attend to was finding a new primary care physician. Back in Somerset, there weren’t many choices. Around 2003, I started with a doctor who was fresh out of residency and didn’t…
In a bid to further understand and solve potential gene therapy safety concerns in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has awarded two research grants totaling nearly $400,000. The funding will allow the awarded researchers and their teams to develop new strategies to prevent immune system…
Three boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), plus one mom, plus three clinic days equals much preparation. On Tuesday, the four of us left our home in Nebraska to drive to Denver for the boys’ neuromuscular clinic visits at Children’s Hospital Colorado. When my boys were younger, getting…
A new gene editing technique was able to fix the mutation that most commonly causes type 2A limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), a new study reports. “We show an effective and precise repair to correct the most frequent [LGMD type 2A] mutation … Our approach is a promising source for…
Protecting structures on the end of chromosomes, called telomeres, by increasing levels of the protein TRF2, was found to improve heart cell survival and function in a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a new study reports. “Our findings suggest that preserving telomere lengths plays a critical role in…
I hope my columns haven’t sounded repetitive lately. I know I’ve mentioned more than once that my oldest son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Max, fell and broke his leg almost four weeks ago. But I continue to learn, adjust, and come to realizations that inspire my column. In…
Sarepta Therapeutics is calling for applications for the 6th annual Route 79, The Duchenne Scholarship Program, for the 2023-2024 academic year. The scholarships, of up to $5,000, will be awarded to up to 20 students living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and up to five siblings of…
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