News

Researchers in Taiwan have developed new molecules that can stabilize the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme, a strategy they say might improve the effectiveness of treatments for Pompe disease. Their study, “Harnessing polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines as a stabilizer of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) to enhance the efficacy of enzyme…

FORTIS, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of an experimental gene therapy called AT845, is due to restart in adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), thanks to a decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The trial was put on hold mid-2022 after one of its…

Researchers created and characterized an infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) mouse model that carried a genetic defect commonly found among people with Southern Han Chinese ancestry, a study reported. The model recapitulated most of the signs and symptoms of IOPD and, according to researchers, is ideal to evaluate potential IOPD…

Astellas Gene Therapies has obtained the rights to develop medication that could help reduce preexisting immune responses against the viral carrier used in ATA845, its investigational gene therapy for adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). Called IdeXork, or Xork, the investigational medication was developed by Selecta Biosciences,…

MRI scans of people with classic infantile Pompe disease showed a change in the microscopic structure of certain brain regions — but no damage was seen in patients with the late-onset form of the disease, a new study reports. “We conclude that, while no deviations from typical neurodevelopment were…

In 2022, Pompe Disease News brought you weekly coverage of the latest scientific research, clinical trial updates, and treatment advances related to Pompe disease. We look forward to continuing to be a resource for our valued readers in 2023. Here is a list of the 10 most-read Pompe news…

MZE001, an experimental oral substrate reduction treatment for Pompe disease, was well-tolerated in both single and multiple doses in a study conducted in healthy volunteers, according to Maze Therapeutics, the therapy’s developer. Based on the trial’s findings, Maze is planning to launch a new study in 2023 to…

The level of variability seen during an ultrasound — a parameter called echo heterogeneity index — may help to quantify the level of skeletal muscle involvement in Pompe disease patients, a new study suggests. A lower EH index in the leg muscles was indicative of worse motor function, as…

An MRI-based study found that progression of white matter involvement in the brain among patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) occurred at different rates and correlated with cognitive decline — despite ongoing treatment. White matter abnormalities also were tied to elevated bloodstream levels of the neurofilament light chain (NfL)…

A new cell-based therapy containing a modified version of the GAA gene mutated in Pompe disease, can effectively clear out glycogen in a number of tissues, including the heart, skeletal muscles, and central nervous system (CNS), a mouse study showed. The new treatment functions as a blood stem cell…