Neuromuscular Disease News

Healio Neurology’s five most-viewed stories in December highlight a study on increased sun exposure lowering children’s MS risk, FDA approval of a treatment for myasthenia gravis and research on a self-administered examination that may quickly identify mild cognitive impairment conversion to dementia.

Merck announced it has entered an agreement to acquire Chord Therapeutics, a biotech company that focuses on rare neuroinflammatory diseases, to expand its neurology pipeline.

The FDA announced the approval of Vyvgart for treatment of the chronic autoimmune, neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis in adults who are positive for acetylcholine receptor antibody.

Although rituximab was safe and well tolerated in acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis, researchers noted low probability of it significantly reducing steroid use at 1 year.

Increased sunlight exposure may offer significant protection against development of pediatric MS, according to study results published in Neurology.

The FDA has granted breakthrough device designation to Blackrock Neurotech for its MoveAgain Brain Computer Interface System, according to a company press release.

Survey data provided insight into the symptomatic burden of limb girdle muscular dystrophy, according to study results published in Neuromuscular Disorders.

Lifetime physical activity did not appear to increase risk for ALS, whereas occupational physical activity seemed to be a risk factor for the disease, according to study results published in Neurology.

Biogen announced it intends to initiate a global phase 3b study to investigate clinical outcomes and safety of a higher dose of Spinraza in patients with later onset spinal muscular atrophy previously treated with Evrysdi.

PTC Therapeutics Inc. released results showing that treatment with Translarna delayed loss of ambulation by more than 5 years among boys with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy vs. standard of care alone.