Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Treatment with Tegsedi (inotersen) for more than three years continued to slow disease progression and improve the quality of life in people with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), according to new data from the extension study of the NEURO-TTR trial. Patients who started treatment earlier experienced greater benefits, but…

Larger studies are needed to back the use of nailfold capillaroscopy — a non-invasive technique for imaging tiny blood vessels in the fingers — for the early detection of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), a new report says. Nailfold capillaroscopy, known as NFC, allows researchers to image blood vessels…

A total of 30 patient advocacy groups working to further understanding and the needs of people living with rare diseases have been selected to receive a Horizon Therapeutics‘ #RAREis Global Advocate Grant. Winners of this year’s inaugural awards are spread across nine countries and represent a total of 29 rare…

Vutrisiran continues to show promise at lessening heart damage in adults with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) with cardiac involvement, according to exploratory new data from the ongoing Phase 3 HELIOS-A trial. Data collected over 18 months of treatment in patients with pre-existing evidence of cardiac involvement showed that vutrisiran led…

Fat accumulation in the soleus muscle, a large muscle of the lower leg, may be indicative of disease progression in people with hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis, a group of conditions that includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), a small study in China suggests. The study, “Skeletal Muscle Involvement Pattern of…

Early signs of swallowing difficulties and carpal tunnel syndrome may serve as biomarkers for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) patients carrying the Ala97Ser (A97S) mutation, a study suggests. According to researchers, these factors may help identify A97S patients who might benefit from early treatment. The study, “Unique Phenotypes With…

Switching to Onpattro (patisiran) following liver transplant and treatment with tafamidis lessened persistent disease progression in a patient with severe familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), a case study reports. The man carried a rare mutation in the TTR gene — the most common cause of FAP — therefore, further studies…

A skin biopsy may help speed up the diagnosis of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), including for asymptomatic people with disease-causing mutations who are at higher risk of developing full-blown disease, according to a single-center retrospective study. This would allow patients, especially those with the Val30Met mutation, to receive treatment…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug status to eplontersen, an investigational therapy that seeks to prevent the buildup of toxic protein deposits in people with transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis — a group of disorders that also includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). The therapy is being co-developed…

MRI scans of pelvis and leg muscles may serve as a marker of progression and treatment response in people with hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis, a group of conditions that also includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), a small Italian study suggests. The study, “Muscle MRI as a…