New Guidelines on Genetic Testing in Children

As scientists learn more about what our DNA can tell us about health and disease, public interest has intensified and genetic testing has become increasingly common. In response, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) have released new guidelines to address updated technologies and new uses of genetic testing and screening in children.

Catena for FA To Be Discontinued in Canada

Idebenone (under the brand name Catena) in July 2008 received conditional market approval in Canada for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia (FA). Now, based on additional data that fails to confirm that treatment with Catena is beneficial in FA, Santhera Pharmaceuticals has announced it will discontinue sales of the drug April 30, 2013.

$13.6 Million in New MDA Grants Promote Understanding, Treatment of Neuromuscular Diseases

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 44 new grants totaling $13.6 million to advance the understanding and treatment of neuromuscular diseases. The new grants, most of which took effect Feb. 1, encompass a range of diseases covered by MDA’s research program, and they support innovative approaches to basic research and new drug development.

In addition to addressing 16 specific neuromuscular diseases under MDA’s umbrella, the grants also fund research into muscular dystrophy in general, and research into muscle physiology related to neuromuscular disease.

FA — Mark Payne, M.D.

Mark Payne, professor of pediatrics and medical and molecular genetics at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $298,048 over a period of two years to study ways to overcome the vulnerability of heart muscle in Friedreich’s ataxia (FA).

FA — Marek Napierala, Ph.D.

Marek Napierala, assistant professor of molecular carcinogenesis at the MD Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas, Smithville, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $320,451 over a period of three years to develop new models of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and explore new therapeutic approaches for the disease.

Friedreich’s Ataxia: Drug Enters Phase 2b Clinical Trial

Edison Pharmaceuticals has launched a phase 2b clinical trial of its experimental drug EPI-743 in adults with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) to assess whether the drug has positive effects on visual function, neurological and neuromuscular function, and disease-associated biomarkers.

In Focus: Straightening the Growing Spine

Payton Mueller's parent knew something was amiss by the time he was 9 months old.

Experimental Drug Being Tested in Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disorders, FA

Edison Pharmaceuticals has announced it is conducting a clinical trial of its experimental drug EPI-743 in children with the mitochondrial myopathyLeigh syndrome, and is planning a trial of this compound in Friedreich's ataxia (FA).

MDA Commits $10.7 Million to Neuromuscular Disease Research

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 33 new grants totaling $10,684,481 to fund research projects focused on uncovering the causes of, and developing therapies for, neuromuscular disease.

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 Aug. 1.

New Gene Therapy Approach for FA, Other Diseases

Human cells treated with engineered transcription activation-like effector (TALE) proteins produced two to three times more frataxin protein than did control cells, a team of researchers has reported.

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