News

Full Phase 3 trial data: Valbenazine eases chorea in Huntington’s

The oral therapy valbenazine significantly reduces involuntary muscle contractions, or chorea, and patient-reported disease burden in people with Huntington’s disease, according to results from the Phase 3 KINECT-HD clinical trial. Top-line data were announced by Neurocrine Biosciences, the therapy’s manufacturer, in 2021. The full findings have…

Huntington’s patients in US have new option of Austedo XR

Austedo XR, an extended-release oral formulation of Austedo (deutetrabenazine), is now commercially available in the U.S. as a treatment for adults with chorea, or uncontrolled muscle contractions, associated with Huntington’s disease. The new formulation is available in tablet strengths of 6 mg, 12 mg, and 24 mg,…

AAN 2023: Phase 1/2 trial to test AskBio’s gene therapy in patients

Asklepios Biopharmaceutical (AskBio) has launched a first-in-human clinical trial testing AB-1001 — an experimental gene therapy designed to modulate cholesterol metabolism in the brain — in people with Huntington’s disease. The trial is currently recruiting participants at a site in Paris. It is open to adults, ages 18…

High huntingtin protein levels in saliva linked to worse disease

Higher levels of healthy and mutant huntingtin protein in saliva, but not in blood, are significantly associated with worse motor symptoms of Huntington’s disease, a study showed. According to the investigators, these findings support the use of noninvasive saliva tests to monitor Huntington’s progression and predict clinical outcomes —…