Posts by: Marisa Wexler, MS

Marisa Wexler, MS

Marisa holds an MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. She specializes in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. Marisa began working with BioNews in 2018, and has written about science and health for SelfHacked and the Genetics Society of America. She also writes/composes musicals and coaches the University of Pittsburgh fencing club.

August 28, 2019August 28, 2019

Cytokinetics and Cure SMA Renew Partnership

News

The biopharmaceutical company Cytokinetics and the nonprofit organization Cure SMA have announced a renewal of their partnership. The partnership aims to increase education and awareness for spinal muscular atrophy ... Read more

June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

Zolgensma ‘Saved All of Our Lives’: A Family’s Journey Through Gene Therapy

News

Tina and Torence Anderson’s sixth and youngest child, Malachi, came into the world on July 31, 2015. “When he was born, he was normal,” Tina said in a phone ... Read more

May 22, 2019May 22, 2019

Rare Case of Severe SMA, Partly Evident by Bone Fractures at Birth, Reported in India

News

A child who barely moved in the womb in the final months before his birth and then had multiple bone fractures at birth was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) ... Read more

May 15, 2019May 23, 2019

‘I’ve Lived Through Death’ with SMA and ‘Through Life’ with Spinraza, Mom Says in Interview

News

Destiny McCalvin gave birth to her second child, a girl she named Kenzlee, after what she and her doctors took to be an uneventful pregnancy in 2011. “She seemed ... Read more

May 13, 2019

#AANAM – Spinraza Safe and Effective in Adults with SMA, Studies Suggest

News

Treating adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with Spinraza (nusinersen) was safe and improved their muscle strength, and motor and respiratory function, among other benefits, according to preliminary research. ... Read more

May 8, 2019May 10, 2019

#AANAM – Interim Results from Phase 2 Trial of Spinraza in Infants with SMA Support Efficacy, Safety

News

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatment with Biogen’s Spinraza (nusinersen) has resulted in motor milestone achievements in line with normal motor development and continues to provide benefit to infants who began receiving ... Read more

May 2, 2019May 2, 2019

From a ‘Gut-wrenching’ Diagnosis to a ‘Wonderful Drug’: Spinraza Users Share Their Stories in Biogen Webcast

News

Learning that spinal muscle atrophy was the reason her 15-month-old son couldn’t do what others his age could was a “gut-wrenching” moment, Kristen Farrell recalled in a recent webcast hosted ... Read more

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019

ACTIVE Video Game Makes it More Fun for Patients to Monitor Their Motor Function

News

A video game called ACTIVE could be used to monitor changes in motor function in people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) types 2 and 3, according to a new study. The video ... Read more

April 8, 2019April 8, 2019

Study Highlights Difficulty of Transitioning from Pediatric to Adult Care for SMA Patients

News

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients transitioning from pediatric to adult care face unmet health needs and possible barriers to health services, according to a study aimed at providing insight ... Read more

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019

Protease Inhibitors Show Potential to Treat SMA By Raising SMN Protein Levels, Study Suggests

News

Through extensive experiments in cell and animal models of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), investigators have demonstrated the possible usefulness of two protease inhibitors — compounds that stop certain enzymes from ... Read more

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