Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

MDA 2024: Spinraza may benefit some SMA children after Zolgensma

In children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who have a less-than-optimal response to the gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi), subsequent treatment with Spinraza (nusinersen) can improve motor function and may reduce nerve damage. That’s according to interim data from the Phase 4 RESPOND study (NCT04488133),…

MDA 2024: Zolgensma gene therapy safe in children up to 21 kg

The one-time gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) didn’t cause any unexpected safety issues among children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who weighed up to 21 kg (about 46 pounds) in a Phase 3b clinical trial, and most had stable or improved motor function a year after treatment. That’s…

Children with SMA express good quality of life in small study

Children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), even those with substantial physical disability, tend to report that their quality of life is similar to other children their age, a small study from Germany reports. “The results from this pilot study show that German children with SMA, despite significant physical disability,…