Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A deficiency of frataxin, the protein whose lack causes Friedreich’s ataxia, leads to problems with mitochondrial translation — the molecular process by which new proteins are made in the mitochondria, the so-called powerhouse of the cell responsible for energy production — according to a new study. The findings specifically…

The European Commission has approved Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) for people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) ages 16 and older, making the treatment the first to win approval for FA in the European Union. The decision comes just a few months after a committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued…

People in the Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) community await the possibility of gene therapies for their disease, with many saying they would participate in gene therapy trials regardless of the potential for side effects or other consequences. Around half of the survey’s 137 respondents expected that such treatment — delivering…

Hot topics of the Nov. 1 webinar included the challenges of living with Friedreich's ataxia, strategies for success, and the recent "game-changing" therapy approval. Read more about the highlights here.

Therapies that aid mitochondria, cellular organelles responsible for producing most of the energy needed by cells, may help with physical function and heart health in people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), according to a review of published studies. Findings appear to support the benefits of Skyclarys (omaveloxolone), the only…

Analyzing patients’ voices using machine learning may help to identify Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and differentiate it from other neurological disorders, a new study shows. “The implications of this approach are substantial and provide new opportunities for healthcare, particularly for remote and rural areas where access to health providers might…

People with Friedreich’s ataxia who were treated with Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) in the MOXIe trial and its extension for three years had more than 50% slower disease progression compared with patients in a natural history study, according to a new analysis. “The present results show a meaningful slowing of…

Treatment with interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), an immune signaling molecule, helped to protect against damage in a cellular model of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a study reports. Although IFN-gamma failed to show clear benefits in clinical trials, these new findings “could help in the design of better therapeutic schedules and shed…

In a deal worth more than $7 billion, Biogen is acquiring Reata Pharmaceuticals, the developers of Skyclarys (omaveloxolone), which earlier this year became the first approved treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia in the U.S. “This is a unique opportunity for Biogen to bolster our near-term…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has greenlighted a request by Larimar Therapeutics to test a 50 mg dose of CTI-1601 on people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and cleared the company to begin an open-label extension study of the treatment. “Gaining clearance to advance to a…

Measuring abnormalities in the neurological circuits the brain uses to make sense of sound could be a useful way to track the severity of Friedreich’s ataxia in people with the disease as well as in laboratory models, a new study reports. The study, “Auditory neuropathy in…

Fredrich’s ataxia (FA) impairs the regulation of hundreds of genes in muscle cells, resulting in reduced activity in those responsible for mitochondrial function and increased activity of repressor genes, a study reports. Addressing both aspects of this genetic abnormality “double hit” may be necessary to achieve the best therapeutic…

A new assay to measure levels of the frataxin protein in blood could be used to assess the effectiveness of treatments in early clinical trials. The researchers showed that measuring frataxin with this method, which uses pig blood as part of the standardization procedure, could distinguish between people with or…

Motion-capture suits can be combined with machine learning to predict how Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) will progress, a new proof-of-concept study shows. The technology may help to improve the efficiency of clinical trials in FA and other slowly progressing diseases, according to researchers. The study, “A wearable…

Abnormalities in the light-sensing cells of the eyes are detectable in carriers of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), but do not appear to affect parts of the pathways that are essential for vision so carriers do not experience visual impairment. That’s according to a study, “Retinal and Visual…

Objective measures of eye movement abnormalities are associated with measures of disease severity in Friedriech’s ataxia (FA) and other hereditary ataxias, a new study reports. “We have shown that characteristic oculomotor [eye movement] abnormalities can be quantified by the use of eye movement recordings in hereditary ataxias, and that…

Among people with Friedreich’s ataxia, thinner layers of nerve cells at the retina — the light-sensing cells located at the back of the eye — are associated with more severe disease and lower frataxin protein levels, a study reported. Results suggest that measuring the thickness of these retinal nerves…

Researchers have developed statistical models to help predict the progression of Friedreich’s ataxia using data such as age at disease onset and genetic information. Although the models are not yet accurate enough to be employed in clinical use, the researchers said this is a first step toward individualized medicine…

People with Friedreich’s ataxia show marked abnormalities in the structure of the upper spinal cord, some of which are correlated with measures of disease duration and severity, a study reports. “These results provide new insights about [the development of Friedreich’s ataxia] and indicate that spinal cord MRI may be…

A $4.8 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) will support a research project hoping to move a one-time gene editing treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia closer to clinical trials. “If successful, this approach could prevent the neurologic and cardiac complications in [Friedreich’s ataxia] and address the pressing…

In a reversal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has informed Reata Pharmaceuticals that it will not hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the company’s application for omaveloxolone, its oral treatment candidate for Friedreich’s ataxia. The FDA’s reversal means that patients and the FA community will…

A mutation in the gene SIRT6 is associated with less severe neurological symptoms and visual impairment among people with Friedreich’s ataxia, a new study reports. “We have identified a [mutation] in SIRT6 as a potential modifier of [Friedreich’s ataxia] neurological features,” researchers wrote. “The less common CT genotype…

A new mouse model called YG8-800, which accurately captures key features of Friedreich’s ataxia such as neurological dysfunction and heart disease, could be a useful tool for studying genetic therapies for the disease. That’s according to the study, “A promising mouse model for Friedreich Ataxia progressing…

The Friedreich’s ataxia community wants to get people talking about ataxia — a group of disorders that affect co-ordination, balance, and speech — for this year’s International Ataxia Awareness Day (IAAD), which takes place on Sept. 25. “A great way to spread awareness is to encourage people to…

Skin cells of people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) show dysregulated levels of fat molecules, including abnormal levels of a class of fats called ceramides that are important for maintaining cellular membranes, a new study shows. Moreover, the researchers noted that impairments in fat molecules known as lipids “predicted the…

Note: This story was updated on Aug. 10, 2022, to add the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended its review of the omaveloxolone application through the end of February. Following a meeting with the agency, Reata Pharmaceuticals has submitted new data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration…

Mutations that cause Friedreich’s ataxia lead to abnormalities in how nerve fibers grow and reduce their ability to repair themselves, according to a study done in mouse cells. These differences may contribute to nerve cell degeneration that is characteristic of the disease, researchers say. The study, “Frataxin…

Astrocytes, a type of support cell in the brain, showed metabolic defects and unusual pro-inflammatory activity that likely contributes to neuronal dysfunction in a cell model of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), according to a new study. Results also indicate that treatment with a molecule called smoothened agonist (SAG) can normalize…

The European Commission is expected to propose a new governing framework for health data next month, called the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the aim of connecting national health systems to facilitate secure and efficient transfer of data across systems in different European nations. The move is expected to…

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is offering grant awards to researchers working to improve care for Friedreich’s ataxia. The DoD’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) is a funding organization whose goal is to further the development of new approaches to address specific areas of biomedical research as…

Targeting the end regions of FXN mRNA – the intermediary molecule used to make frataxin – may allow cells to make more of this protein, whose absence causes Friedreich’s ataxia, a new study shows. “We demonstrated a novel approach to increase intracellular levels of FXN mRNA and protein based…

A team of scientists at Koc University in Turkey has created three new cell models of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) derived from patients with repeat expansions in their FXN gene. The models “will facilitate studies to understand molecular mechanisms related to FRDA [Friedreich’s ataxia] pathology [disease processes] as well as therapeutic…

This year’s rideATAXIA Dallas, a cycling event that raises money to support research into treatments for Friedreich’s ataxia, will take place Nov. 6. The event will feature in-person rides at UNT Discovery Park in Denton, Texas. Four route options are available: three, six, 27, and 50 miles. Registration…

Reata Pharmaceuticals is planning to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve omaveloxolone to treat people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) early in 2022, following the completion of a preliminary meeting with the agency. “Omaveloxolone could be the first drug approved for the treatment of Friedreich’s…

Researchers have developed a new system that might better measure walking or gait problems in people with Friedreich’s ataxia and other nerve and muscle conditions. The study describing this method was published in the journal Sensors, as “Gauging Gait Disorders with a Method Inspired by Motor Control…

Eurordis opened a campaign, called Rare 2030 Action, that is seeking to establish a European action plan for rare diseases to ensure that none of the 30 million people in Europe living with rare diseases are left behind by the start of a new decade. As part of…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has put a hold on the clinical development of CTI-1601, an investigational treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) that is being developed by Larimar Therapeutics. According to a press release from Larimar, the hold was put in place after Larimar notified the…

Leriglitazone, an oral treatment candidate for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), can increase frataxin levels and reduce neuronal degeneration in cell and animal models of the disease, a study found. Along with promising clinical findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT03917225), the results support the use of leriglitazone, and the…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)’s RareLaunch training program will host two days of free virtual workshops in December, with the aim of empowering leaders to start non-profit organizations and research programs to help people with rare diseases.  “The RareLaunch program is…

The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), the CureFA Foundation, and fara Australia are supporting four research projects that aim to better understand the biology underlying Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and pave the way for future treatment approaches, FARA announced in a press release. The Award for…

A majority of rare disease patients using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic thought the experience positive, and many would like the option of continuing its use in future appointments, a series of surveys found. The surveys were conducted by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and involved more than 800…

IXICO has entered a five-year collaboration with the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) and joined the TRACK-FA Neuroimaging Consortium, a group of academic and industry partners that are conducting a natural history study focused on tracking brain and spinal cord changes in patients with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA).

Measuring blood levels of two proteins, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin, may provide useful information about heart health in people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a study suggests. The study, “Significance of NT-proBNP and High-Sensitivity Troponin in Friedreich Ataxia,” was published in the …

Poorer motor control associates with greater cognitive difficulties in people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a study from Belgium suggests. Its researchers also indicate that a recently validated cognitive test, although for a separate disease, ably captures the severity of problems with higher-level thinking in these patients, and could be used in…

To mark Friedreich’s Ataxia Awareness Month, the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) is hosting a Research Flash Talk series covering ongoing studies of gene and protein function, as well as clinical outcomes and insights. A flash talk refers to a short presentation — typically five minutes or less,…

To minimize risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reata Pharmaceuticals is implementing at-home visits to deliver omaveloxolone to Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) patients and to assess the treatment’s safety in an extension study of the MOXIe Phase 2 clinical trial. “The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented threat to public…

Abnormally low levels of the protein HAX-1 correlate with decreased amounts of frataxin in cells from people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), suggesting this protein could be used as a biomarker in the disease. The study with that finding, “Frataxin deficiency in Friedreich’s ataxia is associated with reduced…

The first therapy development program for neurological disorders launched by Exicure will focus on Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), the company announced. Its FA program will be developed in collaboration with the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), it added. FA is caused by the expansion of the GAA trinucleotide repeat in…