Author Archives: Patricia Inacio PhD

uniQure is launching a Phase 1/2 trial in the United States to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of its Huntington’s disease investigational gene therapy AMT-130. This follows recent approval of an investigational new drug (IND) application for AMT-130 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The…

Asuragen has launched a fast, easy-to-use and reliable diagnostic test, called AmplideX PCR/CE HTT Kit, for Huntington’s disease. The AmplideX test is able to detect up to more than 200 CAG trinucleotide repeats within the gene that codes for the huntingtin (HTT) protein. “AmplideX technology continues to demonstrate…

While transplanted fetal nerve cells can survive long term in the brain of a Huntington’s disease (HD) patient, only a specific subset called interneurons thrive, according to a study. Projection neurons — a particular type of nerve cell commonly lost in Huntington’s — were rarely detected, probably due to…

A bioactive compound present in raspberries called salidroside can prevent the cellular toxicity that occurs as a consequence of protein accumulation in certain neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s disease, a study reports. The study, “Identification and microbial production of the raspberry phenol salidroside that is active against Huntington’s disease,” was published…

The juvenile form of Huntington’s disease, which affects patients younger than 20, is particularly aggressive and associated with an early onset of symptoms, a retrospective study has found. Based on the study’s findings, researchers have also suggested that a revision of the current classification of juvenile Huntington’s disease may…

Researchers have found a protein, called UBR5, that may reduce neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease (HD). This protein prevents the toxic aggregation (clustering) of mutant huntingtin protein, which is the underlying mechanism that triggers nerve cells’ death in Huntington’s patients. The study, “The ubiquitin ligase UBR5 suppresses proteostasis collapse in pluripotent…

Retrotope’s investigative therapy RT001 reduced cognition deficits in  mice with Huntington’s disease, and was found to lower the amount of oxidative damage in their brains. The study, “Deuterium‐reinforced linoleic acid lowers lipid peroxidation and mitigates cognitive impairment in the Q140 knock in mouse model of Huntington’s disease,” was published in…

Impaired metabolism of a type of brain cell called an astrocyte plays an important role in the development and progression of Huntington’s disease, a study using a mouse model has found. Discovery of this previously unknown error could be key in developing future treatments for Huntington’s, which does…

Elevated levels of a specific protein in the saliva of Huntington’s disease patients may be used as a biomarker to measure motor function and clinical outcomes, according to researchers. Their study, “Salivary levels of total huntingtin are elevated in Huntington’s disease patients,” was published in the journal…

Genetic causes behind Huntington’s disease may overlap with those behind rheumatoid arthritis, an unexpected finding that could potentially open the door for new therapeutics targeting both diseases, a study suggests. The study, “Comprehensive epigenetic landscape of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes,” was published in the journal Nature Communications. Rheumatoid…