News

European Initiative Targets Diagnosis, Treatment of Rare Diseases

A new international consortium based in Paris, and funded largely by the 28-member European Union, intends to speed the diagnosis of rare diseases, while also accelerating the development of treatments for the 95% of such illnesses that currently don’t have one. The European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP…

NORD Honors Industry, Patient Advocates at Rare Impact Awards Gala

A violinist with vasculitis, two Texas politicians and a pharmaceutical company whose marijuana-derived therapy helps kids with Dravet syndrome were among winners of the 2019 Rare Impact Awards. Officials of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) presented the awards during a June 22 dinner attended by…

Eurordis Unveils Integrated-care Initiative for Rare Disease Patients

Europe’s umbrella organization for 800 rare disease associations has developed a sweeping initiative to help the continent’s 30 million rare disease patients and their caregivers learn about their conditions, find assistance and receive treatment. Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe hopes to improve the current piecemeal treatment and support program with a holistic,…

Methylprednisolone Shows No Clear Benefit for FA Patients in Pilot Trial

Treatment with methylprednisolone, an anti-inflammatory medication, had no evident benefit in children and adults with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) enrolled in a pilot clinical trial conducted at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Oral therapy with methylprednisolone failed to improve patients’ overall mobility and neurological function, although three children…

MS Therapy Dimethyl Fumarate May Help Patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia, Study Suggests

Dimethyl fumarate, an approved therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), may help people with Friedreich’s ataxia by increasing the amount of frataxin protein that is deficient in these patients, an international research team has found. This suggests that the treatment may help overcome the metabolic impairment characteristic of Friedreich’s ataxia and…