News

Animal Models Can Predict Brineura Doses for CLN2 Patients

Animal models predicted dosing of the enzyme replacement therapy Brineura (cerliponase alfa) for patients with late infantile Batten disease, also called CLN2 disease, a study showed. Scientists said this approach also may be applied to predict cross-species dosing for other similar medicines. “Overall, the approach described here provides…

Partnership Aims to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Rare Disease Meds

AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, a specialty and home delivery pharmacy, is partnering with TailorMed, a healthcare technology company, to help lower out-of-pocket prescription costs for specialty pharmacy patients. Medications attained through specialty pharmacies are those used to treat rare and chronic conditions in the U.S., and are often extremely costly. For…

Nominations Open for 2022 Eurordis Black Pearl Awards

Nominations are now open for the worldwide 2022 Black Pearl Awards from Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. The 12 award categories recognize individual advocates, policy makers, researchers, organizations, and companies who work to make a difference for the global rare disease community. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 10…

EMA Names Potential Gene Therapy for CLN5 Batten an Orphan Drug

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) designated Neurogene’s gene therapy candidate for CLN5, a form of late-infantile Batten disease, an orphan drug as a potential treatment of the disorder. “This regulatory designation is an important milestone toward addressing the urgent, unmet need of families and patients living with CLN5, and…

Gene Therapy Shows Promise in Mice With CLN8 Disease

A gene therapy designed to deliver a working version of the CLN8 gene — the one mutated in people with CLN8, a form of late-infantile Batten disease — prolonged the survival, reduced disease-associated brain features, and partially corrected motor problems in a mouse model. The findings, likely representing one of…

EveryLife Introduces First of Kind ‘Roadmap’ to ICD Codes

To help patient advocacy leaders and their partners better understand how global health statistics codes — known as ICD codes — are assigned, updated, and revised in the U.S. health information system, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is presenting a first-of-its-kind resource guide. The foundation created the…