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 2025: Apitegromab safely improves SMA motor function

Apitegromab, a muscle-strengthening therapy up for approval in the U.S., led to gains in motor function in a clinical trial for people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who took disease-modifying therapies. Data from the trial, called SAPPHIRE (NCT05156320), formed the basis of Scholar Rock‘s recent…

MDA 2025: Evrysdi consistent after 5-year SUNFISH follow-up

After five years of treatment with Evrysdi (risdiplam), people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) types 2 and 3 continue to see stabilization and improvement in measures of motor function. That’s according to new long-term data from the Phase 2/3 clinical trial SUNFISH (NCT02908685), sponsored by Roche, which…

MDA 2025: SMA kids maintaining Zolgensma benefits 10 years later

Children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) given the gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) in infancy are maintaining motor milestones after up to a decade of follow-up, according to new long-term clinical trial data. “At their last assessment, … patients [given the now-approved dosage of Zolgensma] were able to…

MDA 2025: SMA gene therapy OAV101 shows acceptable safety

OAV101 IT, a version of the gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) that’s administered into the spinal canal, can be safely given to people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who were previously treated with other SMA therapies, according to new data from a clinical trial. “No [adverse events] leading…

MDA 2025: Conference begins, marking another year of progress

The Muscular Dystrophy Association‘s (MDA) annual Clinical & Scientific Conference kicked off over the weekend, bringing together patients, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, academics, advocates, and industry leaders to discuss the latest in science and care related to a range of neuromuscular diseases. This year’s conference will bring together hundreds…

Scoliosis, kyphosis common with SMA type 1 in DMT era: Study

While effective treatment is lengthening life and improving its quality, children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 often have abnormal spinal curvatures like scoliosis that require long-term care, a study highlights. “Novel therapies have made this [SMA] a treatable condition, resulting in increased life expectancy,” the researchers, all…

FDA approves new tablet version of oral SMA treatment Evrysdi

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new tablet formulation of Evrysdi (risdiplam), an approved oral treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). “Evrysdi has robust potential to modify the SMA disease trajectory, and has already been used to treat thousands of patients to date,” Levi Garraway, MD,…

Cure SMA seeks $10M in DOD funding in advocacy campaign

Cure SMA is leading an advocacy campaign for new research funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) that would be dedicated to addressing unmet challenges for people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The campaign is seeking $10 million in SMA-dedicated funding from the DOD’s medical research program,…