Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Steve holds a PhD in biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada. As a medical scientist for 18 years, he worked in both academia and industry, where his research focused on the discovery of new vaccines and medicines to treat inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases. Steve is a published author in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and a patented inventor.

Articles by Steve Bryson

Gene therapy injected into eye may fix FA vision problems: Study

An experimental gene therapy injected directly into the eye preserved the structure and function of the retina — the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye — in mouse models of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), according to a proof-of-concept study. These data support “continued efforts toward the development of…

FA treatment shows potential to protect nerve cells

Leriglitazone, an oral therapy being investigated as a Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) treatment, extends nerve cell survival, improves mitochondrial function, helps balance iron levels, and prevents ferroptosis (a type of iron-dependent cell death), a cell-based study showed. Data also showed that combining leriglitazone with lower doses of the approved…

4 years of Skyclarys slows Friedreich’s ataxia progression

Four years of daily treatment with Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) continues to slow the progression of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) compared to what would be expected in patients without treatment. That’s according to new data from the extension study of the Phase 2 MOXIe clinical trial (NCT02255435), which also showed…

Antioxidant supplement boosts frataxin in FA cells: Study

Supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a naturally occurring antioxidant, boosts the production of frataxin, the protein that’s deficient in people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), according to a cell-based study. Alpha-lipoic acid reversed many cellular features of FA, including dysfunction of energy-producing mitochondria, impaired iron metabolism, and oxidative stress, a…

Study shows Skyclarys helps heart function in FA mice

A new study reports that Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) improves the heart’s ability to contract and pump blood while reducing inflammation and heart failure markers in a mouse model of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) with severe heart disease. Skyclarys had no impact on the development of scar tissue, or fibrosis, in…

FDA provides path for accelerated approval of nomlabofusp for FA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided Larimar Therapeutics with clear expectations for an application seeking accelerated approval of nomlabofusp, its potentially disease-modifying therapy for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), according to the drug developer. Accelerated approval is a type of conditional approval based on early clinical…

Heart function OK with high dose of Skyclarys in study

A high dose of the Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) treatment Skyclarys (omaveloxolone), far above the approved dose to match blood levels when the therapy is taken with food, did not affect heart function in healthy individuals, a study confirms. The study, “Effect of a Supratherapeutic Dose…

Scientists design molecules that target genetic defects in FA

Scientists have designed molecules to correct the effect of DNA expanded repeats that cause Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), according to a new study. Using patient-derived cells, experiments demonstrated that these molecules, known as anti-gene oligonucleotides, or A-GOs, markedly boosted the production of frataxin, which is the protein that’s deficient in…