News

Newborn screening seems better at identifying Pompe disease cases than a clinical examination, especially for classic infantile-onset Pompe disease, according to researchers. Their study, “Using Decision Analysis to Support Newborn Screening Policy Decisions: A Case Study for Pompe Disease,” was published in the journal Medical Decision Making Policy & Practice. Screening…

Perlara biotech is collaborating with the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and the Warren Family Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development to develop new treatments for glycogen storage disorders, including Pompe and Cori diseases. Pompe disease mainly causes muscle weakness, impaired gait, and muscle pain. The three types…

Clenbuterol as an add-on therapy appears to be safe and significantly improves the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in patients with late-onset Pompe disease, according to the results from a Phase 1/2 trial. The study, “Correction of Biochemical Abnormalities and Improved Muscle Function in a Phase…

PerkinElmer announced that its in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit able to test newborns for the six most commonly screened lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The kit, the first commercialized using mass spectrometry instrumentation in the U.S., can screen for all six of…

Adding immunomodulatory medicines to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) — Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa) — gives temporary but not long-term protection from antibodies that can block ERT’s effectiveness in patients with classic infantile Pompe disease. Better immunomodulatory regimens are needed to induce long-term…

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) seems to be an effective and efficient tool to evaluate muscular status and monitor patients with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), according to researchers. Their study, “Quantitative muscle MRI to follow up late onset Pompe patients: a prospective study,” was published in the…

Treatment with Lumizyme (alglucosidase alfa) at double the approved dose may help prevent the rapid decline of respiratory and cardiovascular functions in infants with Pompe disease, a case report suggests. Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it in 2006, Lumizyme has change the course of Pompe…

Patients with late-onset Pompe disease have a lower rate of severe heart disease than those with other forms of the disease, according to a large, retrospective study. This finding suggests that these patients may be able to have less frequent heart-related follow-up exams, such as electrocardiograms (ECG) and echocardiograms (Echo).

Gene therapy, using an improved version of a virus as a delivery vehicle, greatly improved muscle and respiratory function in a mouse model of Pompe disease. The study, “Systemic delivery of AAVB1-GAA clears glycogen and prolongs survival in a mouse model of Pompe disease,” was published in…

Four cases of infantile-onset Pompe disease recently reported in Australia help shed light on some of the unique challenges care providers face in diagnosing and managing this genetic disease. Early recognition of the disease’s signs and prompt initiation of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) are critical to ensuring the best patient outcome…