Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

‘Focused, Intense’ MDA Conference Advances Neuromuscular Disease Research

Turning neuromuscular disease research into treatments as quickly and effectively as possible was the overarching theme of dozens of formal presentations, nearly 200 scientific posters, and countless informal conversations at the MDA Scientific Conference, April 21-24.

A palpable sense of excitement pervaded the sold-out event thanks to the unprecedented number of experimental treatments in clinical trials for neuromuscular diseases, and the unique opportunity the conference provided for information-sharing and collaboration among scientific professionals from many disciplines.

SMA Research Briefs: Testing Drugs from Other Diseases

In the search for therapies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), researchers are testing two drugs with connections to other neuromuscular disorders: riluzole, which is approved for use in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); and tirasemtiv, which is already in testing for ALS and

The Singing Snowmen

Artist: 
Sarah Eames

Eames, 21, has been drawing since she was4 years old. She currently attends Bellevue College, where she studies early childhood education and sings in a choral group.

Sarah Eames

2013
Full name: 
Ms. Sarah Eames
Artist: 
Sarah Eames
Disease: 
Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
Medium: 
Marker

Research Briefs: DMD, Leigh Syndrome, MG, Periodic Paralysis, Pompe Disease

Drug development and identifying new leads for possible drug development are in the news for five neuromuscular diseases in MDA’s program.

$13.6 Million in New MDA Grants Promote Understanding, Treatment of Neuromuscular Diseases

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 44 new grants totaling $13.6 million to advance the understanding and treatment of neuromuscular diseases. The new grants, most of which took effect Feb. 1, encompass a range of diseases covered by MDA’s research program, and they support innovative approaches to basic research and new drug development.

In addition to addressing 16 specific neuromuscular diseases under MDA’s umbrella, the grants also fund research into muscular dystrophy in general, and research into muscle physiology related to neuromuscular disease.

MG — Socrates Tzartos, Ph.D.

Socrates Tzartos, professor of biochemistry at the Hellenic Pasteur Institute in Athens, Greece, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $345,033 over a period of three years to develop diagnostic tools for diagnosis of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) form of myasthenia gravis (MG).

MG — Muthusamy Thiruppathi, Ph.D.

Muthusamy Thiruppathi, a postdoctoral research associate in microbiology and immunology in the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was awarded an MDA development grant totaling $180,000 over a period of three years to pursue ways to restore normal immune system function in myasthenia gravis (MG).

MG — David Richman, M.D.

David Richman, professor of neurology at the University of California, Davis, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $412,500 over a period of three years to study the anti-MuSK myasthenia (AMM) form of myasthenia gravis (MG).

Tirasemtiv Shows Promise in MG

The experimental drug tirasemtiv has shown promise in a phase 2a clinical trial in 32 people with myasthenia gravis (MG). Improvements in general and respiratory muscle function occurred in response to the medication.

Six hours after receiving a single, oral dose of tirasemtiv, study participants showed improvements on a standardized scale of MG severity (the Quantitative MG score) and in forced vital capacity, a measurement of respiratory function.

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