News

The clinical management of two siblings with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) involved multiple approaches, including physical and occupational therapy, medications, orthopedic devices, and nutritional supplements, according to a report from clinicians in Greece. Both siblings have musculoskeletal deformities and are wheelchair-bound. The study, “Clinical management of Friedreich’s Ataxia: a report…

Compounds similar to the chemical methylene blue, which has been shown to have therapeutic benefits in several diseases, were seen to increase frataxin levels and the production of mitochondria in Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) cells. The study, “Lipophilic methylene blue analogues enhance mitochondrial function and increase frataxin levels in a…

At least 800 people representing some 45 countries are soon expected to gather in Austria’s capital city, Vienna, for ECRD 2018, the 9th European Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products. The May 10-12 meeting is sponsored by Eurordis, the Paris-based group that defines itself as a “patient-driven alliance”…

The clinical benefits of stem cell therapy in Friedreich’s ataxia patients will be assessed in a small pilot study at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the FXN gene, which contains instructions to produce frataxin, an essential…

Researchers have found that patients with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) show progressive deterioration of auditory neural responses to ongoing acoustic stimulation. The study titled “Rapid exhaustion of auditory neural conduction in a prototypical mitochondrial disease, Friedreich ataxia,” was published in the journal Clinical Neurophysiology. Patients with auditory neuropathy…

Retrotope has submitted the design of a pivotal clinical trial for its Friedreich’s ataxia therapy RT001 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The submission was prompted by results of a Phase 1/2 trial showing that the therapy was safe and exhibited early signs of effectiveness — an ability to improve patients’ physical functioning. A…

Researchers found that patients with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) show a gradual reduction in low-contrast visual acuity over time. This decline is more pronounced in those with higher numbers of GAA repeats, a hallmark in FA, and could be a biomarker for future studies. The study, “Longitudinal analysis of low-contrast…

A little-known government entity within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is helping to lead U.S. efforts to speed up the development of therapies for some 7,000 rare diseases. The Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, was established in 1993 within the NIH Office of the…

Results from a Phase 1/2 clinical study support the safety and tolerability of RT001, an investigational therapy for Friedreich’s ataxia. Patients treated with RT001 also were seen to improve in physical functioning tests. The study, “Randomized, clinical trial of RT001: Early signals of efficacy in Friedreich’s ataxia,” was published…

Researchers found that the use of mobility devices is associated with a poorer quality of life in children with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). The study, “Impact of Mobility Device Use on Quality of Life in Children With Friedreich Ataxia,” was published in the Journal of Child Neurology. Friedreich’s ataxia is a…