VIDEO: Awareness of Friedreich’s ataxia may increase tertiary care center referrals

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Since the approval of omaveloxolone, this has been a target as to really get more neurologists and pediatric neurologists more aware of FA. That has several implications. First, you recognize earlier you can get people onto medicine earlier, which will change the progression. Normally, the diagnostic journey of FA can go anywhere from one to two years in a rapidly progressing child to eight years or more in some of the slowly progressing adults, so it's something that every neurologist needs to know about, and I think education has brought that forward.

In addition, I think the recognition across all diseases where not everyone is going to be an expert in FA, and people can refer readily to tertiary care centers and even ordinary care centers that see a lot of FA patients and then refer back, so patients can get the best quality care. It is not a simple disease. We're always willing to work with people to help manage them locally, but it has become more easily available for people to come to tertiary care centers through the support of research trials.