Children with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) experienced reductions in disease-related biomarkers and stabilizations or improvements in clinical function after switching from Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa) — sold as Lumizyme in the U.S. — to Nexviazyme (avalglucosidase alfa), according to a new study from Taiwan. These functional improvements were…

Early immune tolerance induction with rituximab, methotrexate, and intravenous (into-the-vein) immunoglobulin may have prevented twin babies with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) from developing antibodies against enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), according to a case report from the U.S. The report, “Optimizing clinical outcomes: The journey of twins with CRIM-negative…

A 1-year-old boy with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) showed improved muscle strength and signs of less heart inflammation four months after receiving gene therapy, according to a case report. The findings in this case were confirmed with cardiac MRI, a noninvasive test that uses radio waves and magnets to…

Switching from Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa) to Nexviadyme (avalglucosidase alfa) led to gains in motor function and laboratory markers for four children with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) who took part in a compassionate use program in Italy. One child who’d had persistent heart disease on Myozyme also saw…

A gene therapy designed to travel into muscles resulted in widespread production of the enzyme that’s missing or faulty in Pompe disease, according to a study that also describes a new rat model of the infantile-onset form of the disease. Researchers also observed that rats given a single…

Adding L-alanine supplements to standard enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for a young girl with Pompe disease led to improvements in several metabolic and body composition measures, a case report shows. According to researchers, this was the first known report of oral supplements of L-alanine — an amino acid,…

Training with continuous positive airway pressure therapy, known as CPAP, may help to normalize speech abnormalities in children with Pompe disease, a small pilot study shows. Certain outcomes, including the speech intelligibility score (SIS), “were significantly improved” over the course of the six-month study, but as two of the…

Starting treatment with enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) in the first days of life appears to lessen the risk of hearing impairments in children with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD), researchers report. “Our study may enhance awareness of early intervention before hearing-related morbidities can develop in patients with IOPD,” its researchers…

The type of genetic mutation carried by a Pompe disease patient appears to predict whether the disease is infantile- or late-onset, according to a study. However, newly diagnosed patients should still undergo complete genetic, cardiac, and neurological tests, scientists stated. The study, “Phenotypic implications of pathogenic…

The discovery of a new combination of mutations causing infantile-onset Pompe disease, described in a case report, highlights the importance of screening for early detection of the rare genetic disorder. A sensitive and inexpensive screening system could improve the prognosis of infants with Pompe disease (PD), the researchers…