The Ionis/Roche/Genentech Huntington’s program has received a lot of press in recent months. However, several additional companies have been working towards the same goal of developing therapies to target the genetic source of HD. One company is testing an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy, already in clinical trials, while others have novel drugs in the works that rely on viruses or small molecules. Read about Wave Life Sciences, Voyager Therapeutics, and PTC Therapeutics in this great article from HD Buzz.
Wave Life Sciences Announces Positive Phase 1 Results for WVE-210201 in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Speaking of Wave Life Sciences: this company has also been working on a therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal childhood disorder that causes muscle wasting in boys. Today Wave issued an announcement that their ASO completed a successful safety trial and that a Phase 2/3 trial is now being planned. Although this has no direct implications for their HD therapy, it’s encouraging to hear that ASO technology continues to show positive safety results in various populations.
Participants Needed for an HDSA-Funded Study
Do you live in the Indianapolis, Cincinatti, or Louisville areas? Consider participating in a study by an HDSA-supported researcher in Bloomington, Indiana. Alan Phipps at the University of Indiana Bloomington is examining the effects of noninvasive brain stimulation on movement in adults (18-80) in the early or middle stage of Huntington’s disease. It involves three experimental sessions of 30 minutes each involving treadmill walking and a weak electric current delivered through electrodes on your head. For participating you will receive a gift card valued at $50 for each experimental session completed, and travel reimbursement check for up to 500 miles (paid after the final session). Testing will take place in the Kinesiology Department at Indiana University Bloomington. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please contact the Neuromuscular Control Lab at 812-855-3714 or reach out to Alan Phipps atalmphipp@indiana.edu.
