News

New Institute Aims to Leave No Rare Disease Patient Behind

A newly launched non-profit institute is seeking to advance research, and the development of new therapies, for people with rare diseases — a patient community with some of the largest therapeutic needs, but one that is often left behind. Named the Institute for Life Changing Medicines, the project was…

Results of DCCR Extension Study Support FDA Application, Soleno Says

One year of treatment with Soleno Therapeutics’ investigational oral therapy diazoxide choline controlled release, known as DCCR, significantly reduced excessive appetite and disease-related behaviors in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) patients, according to top-line data from an extension study of the DESTINY PWS Phase 3 trial. These trajectories were significantly…

Group Focuses on Rare Disease Clinical Trial Participation

Participation in clinical trials exposes rare disease patients to financial, physical, and emotional pressures, according to the results of a patient focus group series. “Rare disease trial participants are running an endurance race they are highly motivated to complete, but these incremental burdens negatively impact their ability or willingness to…

Study Links Pituitary Gland Changes in PWS to Behavioral Symptoms

People with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have smaller pituitary glands than their typically-developing peers, according to data from a small study. The findings also suggest that altered pituitary size is associated with behavioral abnormalities in PWS. Results were published in the journal Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry, in the study “…

High-resolution Imaging of Entire Human Genome on the Horizon

An $11.2-million, five-year grant has been awarded by the Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to uncover high-resolution details of the entire human genome. This project should help better understand the genome’s structure and function, as well as provide important clues about the…