Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

9 Cases of Onpattro Used to Ease FAP Symptoms Described in Report

Several cases in which treatment with Onpattro (patisiran) was used to ease familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) symptoms were described in a recent report from Italy. The study, “Italian Real-Life Experience of Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Treated with Patisiran,” was published in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized…

Vutrisiran Approved by FDA to Treat FAP Under Brand Name Amvuttra

Vutrisiran — now known by the brand name Amvuttra — has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), also known as hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. The therapy is expected to be available for shipment to healthcare providers…

Europe Awaits Proposed New Framework for Sharing Health Data

The European Commission is expected to propose a new governing framework for health data next month, called the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the aim of connecting national health systems to facilitate secure and efficient transfer of data across systems in different European nations. The move is expected to…

NTLA-2001 Gene Editing Trial to Include Patients With Heart Disease

A clinical trial of the gene-editing therapy NTLA-2001 in people with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is expanding to include those with a related condition, called ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), Intellia Therapeutics, which is developing the therapy, reported. FAP is a form of ATTR amyloidosis — a group of disorders…

Protego Raises $51M to Support Its Protein-misfolding Therapies

Protego Biopharma has raised $51 million to support the development of therapies for diseases caused by protein misfolding, such as familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). The series A financing was co-led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Vida Ventures, and MPM Capital. As part of the financing, representatives from these three…

Gene-editing Therapy NTLA-2001 Given Orphan Drug Status by FDA

Note: This story was updated Nov. 24, 2021 to clarify that NTLA-2001 works by disrupting the TTR gene to reduce transthyretin levels.   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given orphan drug designation to NTLA-2001, an investigational gene-editing therapy for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) and other forms of…

Tegsedi Gets Innovative Medication Category Pricing in Brazil

Tegsedi (inotersen), an approved treatment for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), has received a Category 1 classification by the legal body tasked with economic regulation of medications in Brazil. Category 1 is given by Câmara de Regulação do Mercado de Medicamentos to innovative treatments that are more effective than…

Onpattro Now Will Be Reimbursed for Most Patients in Canada

Onpattro (patisiran) is now reimbursed for patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) living across most regions of Canada, according to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, the therapy’s developer. The announcement comes following a positive recommendation for reimbursement from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) and the Institut…

Depression, Anxiety Common With FAP, Patient Survey Finds

Challenges with mental health often follow a person being told that they carry a mutation that causes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), a rare and progressive disease of adulthood, a study reports. “These results highlight the burden of [FAP] for patients and their relatives. Patients, carriers and their relatives and…