Research

Administration of 3,4-diaminopyridine phosphate (3,4-DAPP) eased problems at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) — sites of nerve-muscle communication — in a zebrafish model of Pompe disease. Results suggest that the medication, also known as amifampridine and approved under the brand names …

As anyone affected by a rare disease knows, treating the illness while trying to go about everyday life is an expensive undertaking.  But exactly how expensive — in terms of direct and indirect costs across rare disease populations — might still come as a surprise: almost…

Maze Therapeutics announced its first three lead therapeutic candidates, including an investigational oral medication designed to treat Pompe disease. Pompe disease is caused by genetic mutations that make the body unable to break down glycogen, a complex sugar molecule. As a result, glycogen builds to toxic levels in…

In the first years of treatment, Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa) — marketed in the U.S. as Lumizyme — can effectively increase physical endurance, and improve lung function and muscle strength in adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), a real-world study found. Yet, despite this treatment, patients’ clinical outcomes, particularly lung…

Early treatment with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and immune tolerance induction (ITI) greatly improved clinical outcomes for infants with the severe, frequently ERT-nonresponsive, CRIM-negative infantile Pompe disease (IPD), a study has found. “Our data suggest that the first few weeks after birth…

Rare Disease Day at NIH, organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and taking place on March 1, will feature panel discussions, patient stories, research updates, TED-style talks, and a presentation by a Nobel laureate recently recognized for her work on a gene editing tool. The free, virtual…

People with rare disorders have a worse healthcare experience than those affected by chronic diseases, according to the results of an international survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. Indeed, rare disease patients overall give their healthcare experience a medium-low rating, of 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5,…

A large-scale analysis of the proteins and lipids found in the blood of people with Pompe disease showed significant changes involving inflammatory responses and the suppression of cellular processes such as immune function and lipid metabolism, a study reported. These findings…

A chest MRI can be used to detect early signs of respiratory muscle weakness in people with Pompe disease, even when lung function is still within a normal range, a study reported. According to its investigators, the findings highlight the importance of these imaging tests to rapidly identify patients…

Newly developed nerve cells derived from patients could be used as a model to study neurological involvement in Pompe disease and test potential therapies, a study reports. Notably, data from these models suggested that a combination of two molecules, which was previously shown to have beneficial effects in models of…