The results of a new Cure SMA study showed that people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and their caregivers are willing to tolerate a range of risks while seeking potential treatment benefits. The advocacy association released its research report on March 6. “In the 2022 Cure SMA Risk/Benefit Survey, we asked individuals with SMA and…
Survey: SMA Patients Willing to Tolerate Significant Risks for Potential Treatment Benefits
Researchers: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Could Lessen ALS Nerve Damage
Study results suggest lowered risk of motor neuron diseases among people with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
Results of a new study led by researchers at the University College London’s (UCL) UK Dementia Research Institute and the UCL Institute of Healthy Aging showed that increasing the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain cells of fruit flies with a certain gene mutation had a “dramatic” increase in their survival. The study…
Briefly: SMA Drug Submitted to FDA for Biologics License; Study Shows that Somatosensory Stimulation Can Affect Hand Choice
Featuring Scholar Rock and Scientific Reports.
Biopharmaceutical Company Submits SMA-Targeted Apitegromab for FDA Biologics License Scholar Rock, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based late-stage biopharmaceutical company, has submitted a Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for apitegromab, described as “a muscle-targeted therapy designed and developed to provide clinically meaningful improvement in motor function for people living with SMA [spinal…
Briefly: Moving Day for AAHomecare; Century Health Brings AI Processing to Nira Medical MS Data
Featuring the American Association for Homecare, Nira Medical, and Century Health.
AAHomecare Moving to New Headquarters in February The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) will be moving to a new office and will have a new address starting Feb. 3: 2611 S. Clark St., Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22022. “The move downsizes our already-small office footprint, as the AAHomecare staff embraces the remote work environment —…
Poll: Medicare, Medicaid Remain Hugely Popular as Trump Administration Takes Over
A large majority of respondents believe health care will become less affordable in the next few years.
Results of a new poll conducted by KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation) show that a large majority of Americans have favorable views of Medicare and Medicaid, regardless of political party affiliation. While President Donald Trump’s incoming administration and a new Congress have discussed slashing Medicaid funding —reporting this month from Politico mentioned potentially $2.3…
New Biopharmaceutical Company to Work on UNC13A Protein Cure to ALS
The startup has secured $101 million in funding to pursue a treatment that could impact 97% of ALS patients.
Trace Neuroscience, a biopharmaceutical launch based in South San Francisco, is targeting the UNC13A protein as a possible treatment path for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurogenerative diseases. In a Nov. 12 press release, the company said UNC13A “is a genetically validated target with the potential to treat 97% of people living with ALS.”…
Briefly: Etac Announces R82 Discontinuations; CP Foundation Lists September Clinical Trials
Featuring Etac and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Etac Announces R82 Discontinuations for January 2025 Etac has announced products it will be discontinuing as of Jan. 1, 2025. In a Sept. 20 bulletin, Etac said it will stop offering the Orca bathtub; the Penguin bathtub positioning system; the Cricket manual wheelchair; the stroller-style Stingray manual wheelchair; and the Scallop seating system. Etac will…
‘Healthy Brains’ Act Would Establish Program to Study Environmental Relationship to Neurodegenerative Diseases
H.R. 9233 calls for the National Institutes of Health to create collaborative centers for research.
A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would establish a research program to study how environmental factors link to neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and atypical Parkinsonian disorders, among others. The Harmonizing Environmental Analyses and Launching Therapeutic Hubs to Yield Bolstered Research and Innovation in Neurological Science…
Philips, World Stroke Organization Urge Better Access to CVA Care
The technology to lessen the impact of cerebrovascular accidents isn’t always accessible.
Royal Philips and the World Stroke Organization (WSO) are partnering to bring greater awareness to the need for best-practice care for patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA), commonly known as stroke. In a Sept. 10 news announcement, Philips said it is “Time for a revolution in stroke care,” referencing a new policy paper co-published with the…
EverythingALS Launches App for ALS Community
New version of the app will connect people with ALS while collecting data to support research.
EverythingALS, a technology- and data-focused nonprofit, has launched an app to support people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), their families and caregivers, researchers, and health-care professionals. In a late August news release, Seattle-based EverythingALS said the new app, compatible with iOS and Android devices, “represents a significant upgrade from the previous version, which was…