PTC begins non-US study of ataluren in DMD/BMD

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 38 new grants totaling more than $12 million to fund research projects focused on its continuing mission to uncover the causes of, and develop therapies for, the more than 40 neuromuscular diseases in its program.

MDA's Board of Directors reviewed and approved the new grants based on recommendations from the Association's Scientific and Medical Advisory Committees, and the grants took effect Feb. 1.

Editor's note 2/2/12:This story was updated to reflect the award of a  new MDA grant to Eric Sjoberg at Amicus Therapeutics.

Drugs that suppress the immune system can successfully prevent or reverse rejection of enzyme replacement therapy in Pompe disease (acid maltase deficiency),a new study has shown.

John Porter from the National Institutes of Health likes to start talks by noting, “It’s a great time to be a mouse with a neuromuscular disease.” Exciting research results are regularly reported, where a treatment appears to cure one neuromuscular disease or another in a mouse — yet there are few treatments available today for people with any of these diseases, and only a few treatments in human clinical trials. Why does it take so long?

BioMarin Pharmaceutical is seeking participants for a clinical trial testing the safety and tolerability of its experimental drug BMN701 in adolescents and adults with late-onset Pompe disease (acid maltase deficiency). The trial is being conducted in California, Kansas and Florida.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 40 research grants totaling $13.7 million to advance the understanding of disease processes and uncover new strategies for treatments and cures of muscular dystrophy and the more than 40 other diseases in the Association's program.

The new grants were recommended by MDA's Scientific and Medical Advisory Committees and approved by MDA's Board of Directors at its July 2011 meeting.