Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

First approved duo therapy for late-onset Pompe disease wins award

Amicus Therapeutics has been honored with the WORLDSymposium 2024 New Treatment Award for Pombiliti + Opfolda (cipaglucosidase alfa/miglustat), the first medication duo to be approved for adults with late-onset Pompe disease. The award recognizes new treatments that received regulatory approval for lysosomal diseases like Pompe disease…

Regular physical activity boosts well-being in adults with Pompe

Staying physically active according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and engaging in a personalized exercise program can significantly improve the physical well-being of adults with late-onset Pompe disease, a small study found. Moreover, regular physical activity was seen to delay disease progression among the study’s participants. “Endurance,…

Antibodies to ERT may not limit response in LOPD

Nearly 1 in 4 adults with late-onset Pompe disease develop high levels of antibodies against enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). However, that does not mean they have a reduced response to treatment, a systematic review study has revealed. The findings are in line with previous data from patients with…

New GAA mutations linked to infantile-onset disease

Three new mutations in the GAA gene were linked with heart disease and severe breathing problems in infants with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) in Malaysia, a study reports. “The novel mutations identified in this study expands the mutation spectrum for IOPD,” the researchers wrote. Also, among the 17 IOPD patients…

Nexviadyme, next-gen ERT for Pompe, now available through NHS

Nexviadyme, (avalglucosidase alfa), Sanofi’s next-generation enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease, will now be available in the U.K. through the National Health Service (NHS). That’s according to a review from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence that deemed Nexviadyme as an option for treating people —…