Research

Stem cell-mediated gene therapy normalized glycogen build-up in muscle, heart, and brain tissue of a Pompe disease mouse model, a study shows. Treatments also restored cellular defects and motor impairment associated with the condition. The researchers recommended stem cell-based gene therapy as a candidate for future clinical development. The…

A number of enzymes involved in synthesizing glycogen – the molecule that accumulates to toxic levels in Pompe disease – are elevated in a mouse model of the disease and these metabolic changes may contribute to the disease’s progression, a study found. In fact, the buildup of these proteins…

In an interview study, mothers of children who tested positive for Pompe disease in genetic newborn screening programs — and would be diagnosed with the late-onset type, or LOPD — expressed uncertainty about the age of symptom onset for their sons and daughters, and concerns about their child’s future.

The function of the diaphragm, a major muscle in breathing, is significantly reduced over a year in adults with Pompe disease relative to healthy people, a small study showed. These deficits, detected through a chest MRI test, were not accompanied by significant changes in lung function tests. In addition,…

If you have a rare disease or are the caregiver of someone with a rare disease, then you’re probably no stranger to research companies reaching out to you. Companies conduct a range of studies and seek out those living with rare diseases to gain more information. While everyone…

A report describes the unusual case of a man with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) that manifested with abnormalities in blood flow in the brain causing stroke-like symptoms. Abnormalities affecting blood vessels in the brain may be an under-recognized complication of LOPD, the researchers said. The study, “…

A diet combining an oral ketone precursor — a molecule being studied as a dietary supplement — and a cocktail of natural antioxidant molecules boosts the efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) at maintaining muscle strength and motor function in a mouse model of Pompe disease, a study…

Certain protein modifications may enhance the ability of a therapeutically-delivered acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme to be secreted and taken up by neighboring cells in models of Pompe disease, a study suggested. Such approaches could offer ways to improve the effectiveness of gene therapies for Pompe, although more work is…

A small study in the U.K. is evaluating a noninvasive MRI-based tool that could potentially detect late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) without the need for invasive muscle biopsies. This specialized muscle MRI also would monitor glycogen buildup — a hallmark of the condition — in muscles over time. The…

Note: This story was updated July 13, 2022, to correct the name of Rare-X’s CEO Charlene Son Rigby. Nonprofits, scientists, governmental organizations, and the rare disease drug development industry have long cited 7,000 as the average number of rare diseases in the world.