News

A new study testing a light exposure measuring device designed to help people with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) better manage their symptoms is recruiting participants. A total of 30 EPP patients are expected to be enrolled, along with 10 individuals without the condition, who will serve as…

A Phase 3 clinical trial of Mitsubishi Tanabe’s investigational therapy MT-7117 (dersimelagon) for people with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) or X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) has been launched. The study (NCT04402489) will take place at 12 clinical sites in the U.S. and will test the therapy in adults and adolescents.

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…