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…
Global Genes has partnered with the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) to advance health equity for rare disease patients and caregivers in underrepresented communities of color. “For rare disease patients, there are many challenges — and for people of color with a rare disease, these challenges are compounded…
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…
The Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) awarded $600,000 in grants to ease the disparities faced by rare disease patients of color. These Impact Rare Disease Solution grants will go five RDDC steering committee working groups, which aim to identify problems for rare disease communities and advocate for solutions. The five…
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…
A crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $45,000 to support “Rare,” a documentary film featuring the struggles and achievements of people living with rare diseases and their families. Sweis Entertainment and Digital Cave Media launched the campaign — allowing filmmakers to finish producing and to release the documentary — on Kickstarter.
A new U.S. initiative called Rare Disease Cures Accelerator–Data and Analytics Platform — dubbed RDCA–DAP — aims to accelerate treatment innovation across rare diseases by sharing existing patient data and promoting the standardization of new data collection. Launched during a virtual workshop in September, the U.S. Food and Drug…
Attralus has raised $116 million to support the clinical development of AT-01, its diagnostic imaging agent for systemic amyloidosis, a group of rare conditions that includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Proceeds from the Series B financing will also be used to develop therapeutic agents for different forms of systemic…
Football and science seem to be disparate fields of play at first glance, but the nonprofit Uplifting Athletes is finding common ground by leveraging the popularity of college gridiron games to fund research for rare diseases. Its nearly two dozen chapters — representing college football teams across the nation…
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has agreed to review Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ application requesting the approval of vutrisiran, its second-generation RNA interference (RNAi) therapy candidate for familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Hereditary ATTR (hATTR) amyloidosis, which includes FAP, “is a rare, rapidly progressive, debilitating and fatal condition and we are…