Forest Ray PhD,  —

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, particularly unintentional weight loss, occur frequently in people with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, also known as familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), according to data from an Italian study. Indeed, more than 80% of the patients in this study reported experiencing at least one GI symptom, a percentage well…

The European Commission (EC) has granted orphan drug status to Intellia Therapeutics’ NTLA-2001 gene-editing therapy for transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), a group of disorders that also encompasses familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Orphan drug status comes with benefits designed to ease a potential medicine’s path to market. “This news is…

People with hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis, which includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy, experience multiple medical issues prior to diagnosis, with potential ATTRv markers commonly appearing in the year before, according to a recent study. A better understanding of patient experiences may help speed its recognition and diagnosis. The study, “…

The two COVID-19 vaccines that recently received emergency approval from the U.S. and other worldwide regulatory agencies are expected to pose little risk to the rare disease community, including to patients with compromised immune systems or those participating in gene therapy studies. That was the message of a recent…

The case of a woman of Afro-Caribbean descent with early onset transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis, who was found to carry a TTR mutation more commonly seen in those of Celtic descent, showed that this disorder can be more varied than previously known. Titled “Early-Onset of Transthyretin Amyloidosis in…

The first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating NTLA-2001, Intellia Therapeutics’ investigational gene-editing therapy for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTR-PN), also known as familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). The trial (NCT04601051) is recruiting at a site…

Same But Different, a U.K. nonprofit that uses the arts to bring communities together, is holding a calendar photography competition to raise awareness for rare diseases. Under the theme “A Glimmer of Hope,” the competition is a means to “visually express the hope that exists for people affected by…

Raremark, an online rare disease patient community, has launched a digital platform called Xperiome, aimed at streamlining the search for new medicines for rare disorders and incorporating more patient input into research. The goal is to help the pharmaceutical industry deliver innovative new therapies faster and smarter, the…

The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases has launched a nationwide National Burden of Rare Disease Survey to measure the full implications, economic and social, of living with rare disease in the United States. People with rare diseases know that the impacts of such conditions extend beyond just medical…

The Alexion Charitable Foundation has awarded $1.1 million in grants to programs that support those with rare diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization recently announced. The grants will support activities that align with the foundation’s Rare Belonging focus, a set of funding priorities aimed at improving the…