Researchers from the University of Queensland recently provided details on the discovery and preclinical characterization of a new hematopoietic prostaglandin D2 synthase (HPGDS) inhibitor, CLS-189, being developed for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Wave Life Sciences Ltd. plans to file with the U.S. FDA for accelerated approval of WVE-N531, an exon skipping oligonucleotide for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who are amenable to exon 53 skipping, a decision based on favorable data from the phase II Forward-53 study. The analysis was conducted after 48 weeks of treatment with 10 mg/kg of the drug dosed every two weeks. Forward-53 achieved all trial goals, turning up sustained exon skipping, muscle concentrations, and dystrophin restoration through 48 weeks and a 61-day tissue half-life that supports giving the DMD therapy once a month.

Prostaglandins induce the regeneration of muscle in rodents and humans through the prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype receptor, but this therapeutic pathway's potential is limited due to systemic tolerability. Researchers from Mesentech Inc. recently presented new results on their prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype receptor agonist irodanoprost trying to address this limitation issue.

Entrada Therapeutics Inc. has received authorization from the U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and research ethics committee to initiate a phase I/II study of ENTR-601-45 for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients with a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene amenable to exon 45 skipping.

Investigators from Insmed Inc. have presented new preclinical data on the efficacy of their adenoviral vector (AAV9)-based gene therapy INS-1201 for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Wall Street was weighing the gravity of the death from acute liver failure of a patient who was treated for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with Sarepta Therapeutics Inc.’s gene therapy, Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec). Liver injury is a known possible side effect of the product, first approved by the U.S. FDA in June 2023 for DMD, as well as other AAV-mediated gene therapies, and the potential problem is highlighted in Elevidys’ prescribing information.

While data on functional endpoints are still to come, Avidity Biosciences Inc. executives said the firm is moving ahead with plans for a BLA filing by the end of 2025 for del-zota, an antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate, in Duchenne muscular dystrophy with mutations amenable to exon 44 skipping (DMD44), based on positive top-line data that analysts say bode well for Avidity’s other late-stage programs targeting rare neuromuscular diseases.