Santhera Testing Idebenone in DMD, FA

Santhera Pharmaceuticals (www.santhera.com) in Liestal, Switzerland, is conducting a clinical trial of the antioxidant idebenone in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in Belgium. Idebenone, which is similar to the antioxidant coenzyme Q10, is being tested against a placebo (inactive substance) for potential positive effects on heart and skeletal muscles.

The compound has been tested by Santhera and the National Institutes of Health in Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), where it has shown promise.

Santhera plans to start a large-scale (phase 3) trial of idebenone in FA this summer in the United States.