News

Avenue Therapeutics has won the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize AJ201, AnnJi Pharmaceutical’s experimental treatment for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), in certain regions of the globe under the terms of a new licensing agreement. Specifically, the agreement lists the U.S., Canada, the European Union,…

TREAT-NMD and Aetion have formed a partnership to deliver real-world evidence and promote the development of new treatments for people with rare neuromuscular diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The projects will combine the expertise of the TREAT-NMD global registry network, which collects de-identified data from patients…

More than 1 in 4 ambulatory spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients experienced clinically meaningful improvements in walking ability after being treated with Spinraza (nusinersen), according to an analysis of real-world findings in Europe. “Our data demonstrate a positive effect of [Spinraza] treatment on motor function in ambulant pediatric and…

A 23-day-old girl with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2, later treated with Spinraza (nusinersen), underwent successful surgical repair of heart defects, according to a new case report. The researchers noted that individuals with SMA may be perceived as risky surgical candidates, considering the poor prognosis for untreated…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given fast track designation to Biohaven Pharmaceuticals‘ experimental medicine taldefgrobep alfa for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The designation is granted to therapies that show potential in addressing serious conditions for which available treatments fall short. It is…

Treatment with bicalutamide and trehalose extended survival and improved motor function in a mouse model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a study has found. Both compounds had beneficial effects on some aspects of muscle fiber structure and reduced cell death. While bicalutamide also lowered levels of toxic…

The Tufts Medical Center, a teaching hospital of the Tufts University School of Medicine, has been awarded a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) grant to investigate patient access to treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and other diseases. The project, led by James Chambers, PhD, will evaluate access to…

A gene-silencing therapy designed to lower the levels of two proteins was found to improve muscle strength and coordination in a mouse model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a new study shows. The therapy, which targets the protein lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and the protein arginine methyltransferase…

People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) types 2 and 3 who received Evrysdi (ridisplam) in the SUNFISH clinical trial and its extension part continued to see improvements or stabilizations in motor function after two years, according to published trial data. Notably, patients who were originally assigned to a…

Young children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) feel more fearful and sad, and may have a harder time recovering from distress than children who are healthy or have other conditions, a small study in India has found. These patients also seem to have more difficulty expressing their feelings or…