While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic won’t have much of an impact on cash available for new biotech startups, it has begun to cause delays in the development of gene therapies to treat a variety of rare diseases. That’s the consensus of industry experts who spoke in a May 26 webinar…
European authorities must step up efforts to screen babies for a multitude of genetic disorders, a panel of experts suggested during a May 14-15 online medical conference. The session was part of the 10th European Conference on Rare Diseases & Orphan Products (ECRD2020) — which was to have occurred…
The low blood sodium levels associated with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) may also contribute to reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES), a case report suggests. The study, “Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) due to acute intermittent porphyria with a novel mutation in the hydroxymethylbilane synthase gene,” was published…
Eurordis, a Paris-based coalition of national rare disease associations across Europe, hosted its first all-virtual conference, bringing some 1,500 delegates from 57 countries together online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10th European Conference on Rare Diseases & Orphan Products (ECRD2020) — which was set for May 14–15 in…
Scenesse (afamelanotide) will be made available in China for people with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), following the partnership between the treatment’s developer, Clinuvel, and the Chinese company Winhealth Pharma. The companies will collaborate to provide Scenesse — the first approved treatment for EPP — to large…
The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) has opened an online survey to better understand how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting people with rare diseases, their families, and caregivers. Survey questions cover a patient’s physical and mental health, supply of treatments, and access to healthcare, among other…
Two previously unreported mutations were found in a man and his mother with variegate porphyria affecting the skin only, a new case study reports. This finding may help healthcare professionals better understand the connection between specific genetic mutations and disease development…
FFF Enterprises and Bionews announced today that both rare and orphan disease advocates are joining forces to provide patients with resources to help them connect as a community and continue to manage their health during this time when many are finding themselves alone. Recognized as the nation’s leading supplier of…
While there are few silver linings to the cloud created by COVID-19, the pandemic that has killed tens of thousands, hobbled economies worldwide and drove millions to quarantine in their homes, one may be a new appreciation of telemedicine. “If something good could come out of this crisis, it’s that…
People with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) report a fairly average health-related quality of life (HRQoL) overall, but they seem to have poorer general health and more issues with work and other activities due to emotional problems than the general population in the U.S., a study in patients in Norway…
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