Full-scale recruitment for an AUD$20 million (about $13.9 million U.S.) nationwide study to screen for severe genetic conditions has begun in Australia. Following the results of a pilot program that tested 60 couples, the current study seeks to screen 10,000 volunteer couples for genetic variants that raise their risk of…
Finding biomarkers that capture neuroinflammation is critical to the continued use of gene therapies carried on an adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a transport agent, according to a recent review. AAV-based gene therapies are of growing importance to  treating neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Genentech announced, without providing details, positive topline results from the pivotal second part of its FIREFISH clinical trial of risdiplam, now before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval. The company said in its release that risdiplam demonstrated statistically significant and medically meaningful motor milestone improvement…
A panel of experts has developed a new treatment algorithm for infants diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) via newborn screening, a study reports. Such newborn screens are vital because outcomes for SMA improve dramatically if therapy begins within the first few days of life, the…
