Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

ART001 gene editor named orphan drug for ATTR amyloidosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to ART001, a gene editing candidate that Accuredit Therapeutics is developing as a one-time treatment for transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis, a group of diseases that includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Such a designation supports developing possible treatment…

Amvuttra approved in US to treat adults with ATTR-CM

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the approval of Amvuttra (vutrisiran) to adults with cardiomyopathy (heart damage) due to nonhereditary or hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CM). Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ Amvuttra was specifically cleared for use to reduce death, hospital stays, and urgent visits due to heart problems in…

Cognitive problems with FAP linked to thinning of key brain regions

Problems with memory and problem-solving in people with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv), a group of diseases that includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), associated with a thinning in specific brain regions, according to a small brain imaging study. “The reasons for cognitive involvement in ATTRv are still a subject of…

AT-02, to clear amyloid deposits, named orphan drug by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given orphan drug designation to AT-02, Attralus’ investigational candidate for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), a group of diseases that includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Orphan drug status supports the development of potential treatments for rare diseases, those…