Jessica Lynn has an educational background in writing and marketing. She firmly believes in the power of writing in amplifying voices, and looks forward to doing so for the rare disease community.
According to a November 3, 2021 news release from biopharmaceutical company OS Therapies, the company’s therapeutic candidate OST-HER2 (OST31-164 / Listeria monocytogenes) received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the FDA.…
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OST-HER2 Earns Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for Osteosarcoma
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In late October 2021, the National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE) in England recommended Givlaari (givosiran) to treat patients with acute porphyria -- or, more specifically, to treat patients…
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Givlaari Access for Porphyria Expected in February 2022 in England
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In 2019, Mike Smith, a father of two, was initially diagnosed with ocular melanoma in his right eye. Shortly after, Mike made the necessary - but difficult - decision to…
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Fundraiser Supports Father with Ocular Melanoma
According to an InBrief PDF from biotechnology and RNA-targeted therapeutics company Ionis Pharmaceuticals ("Ionis"), topline data from a Phase 2 clinical trial highlighted the benefits of cimdelirsen (IONIS-GHR-LRx) for patients…
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Phase 2 Data Shows Cimdelirsen Benefits for Acromegaly
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“The patient network is incredibly important,” Lina Williamson, PhD, explained to me. You see, in her childhood, Lina experienced a number of seemingly unexplainable symptoms: severe and sometimes debilitating leg…
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How Lina Williamson Works to Empower the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Community
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In a late October news release from pharmaceutical company Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Marinus"), the company shared that it would be collaborating with the Loulou Foundation, a private UK nonprofit dedicated…
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New Collaboration Undertakes CANDID Study for CDKL5
When it comes to advances in hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (hATTR amyloidosis), biopharmaceutical company Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Alnylam") has been on top of its game. Alnylam helped develop Onpattro and is…
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STAR App Supports hATTR Amyloidosis Patients
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According to Hemophilia News Today, GENV-HEM, an investigational treatment for patients with hemophilia A and B either with or without clotting factor inhibitors, earned Orphan Drug designation from the FDA.…
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GENV-HEM for Hemophilia Earns Orphan Drug Status
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In the European Union (EU), Orphan Drug designation ("Orphan designation") is granted to products intended to treat, prevent, or diagnose a life-threatening, chronic, or rare disease. These are defined as…
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Hunterase ICV for MPS II Earns Orphan Drug Status in EU
In an October 19 news release from biopharmaceutical company Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Dicerna"), the company shared results from the Phase 1 PHYOX4 clinical trial. During the trial, researchers sought to…
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Nedosiran Shows Promise for Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 3 (PH3)
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Sometimes, treatments used in conjunction with each other can confer benefits for patients. According to the Cancer Network, for example, treating platinum-resistant ovarian cancer using nemvaleukin alfa and pembrolizumab (Keytruda)…
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Nemvaleukin Alfa + Pembrolizumab Earn Fast Track Designation for Ovarian Cancer
While there is no cure for patients with systemic scleroderma, there are some therapies to manage symptoms, such as medications, antibiotics, physical therapy, or even surgery. But according to Medical…
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Early Diffuse Systemic Scleroderma Causes Worse Outcomes
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According to a news release from biopharmaceutical company Clearside Biomedical, Inc. ("Clearside") and eye health business Bausch + Lomb, a revolutionary treatment called XIPERE (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) was recently…
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XIPERE Approved in US for Uveitis Complication
When Shelby Sparks was just five months old, she began having grand mal seizures. Throughout her early years, her family just believed that their daughter had severe epilepsy. Then, when…
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How a Loving Community Raises Dravet Syndrome Awareness
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For years, Debra Papagni Denmark worked to have New York State recognize Phelan-McDermid Syndrome after her son Drew, now 13, was diagnosed. A few years ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo heard…
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Firefighters Raise Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Awareness
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According to a news article published by the Yale School of Medicine, Yale University researchers recently determined that autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) could potentially be reversed. Head researcher…
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ADPKD Could Be Reversed, Shows Yale Study
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Also known as Whitmore's disease, melioidosis is a rare and deadly infectious disease. While rare in the United States, melioidosis is considered a public health crisis in northern Australia, Southeast…
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Walmart Aromatherapy Linked to Deadly Melioidosis
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When AJ Blinn, now age 12, was just 8 years old, his parents noticed something potentially concerning. As AJ was walking around, he was also limping. Eventually, his parents took…
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Boy with Perthes Disease Tees off at Charity Golf Tournament
In 2019, Nathan James Bryan was 31 years old. He enjoyed drinking beer with his friends, working out, and spending time with his family. In fact, he had been staying…
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Family Calls for Mobile Cardiac Screenings After Son’s Death
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In the past, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been relatively difficult to manage or control with current therapies such as biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). While some patients respond well to…
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Patients Report Upadacitinib Benefits for Psoriatic Arthritis
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When a 23-year-old woman, who was 6 weeks pregnant, first appeared at the doctor, she was presenting with non-specific symptoms: pale eyelids, abdominal pain, intermittent cramping, and generalized arm and…
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“Pink” Urine Helps Diagnose Acute Hepatic Porphyria
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Currently, a glioblastoma multiforme diagnosis comes with a relatively poor prognosis: 25% survival after 1 year, and 5% after 5 years. Researchers have been looking to not only expand their…
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New Research Furthers Glioblastoma Understanding
From October 6-7, 2021, researchers and stakeholders descended upon the virtual Northeast Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Meeting to discuss new trends, research, and therapies within the field. According to ALS News…
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SBT-272 Offers Mitochondrial Protection in ALS
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According to a recent news release, the first cohort - consisting of healthy volunteers - was dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating an intranasal formulation of 5-MeO-DMT. Ultimately,…
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First Cohort Dosed in 5-MeO-DMT Trial for Treatment-Resistant Depression
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When drug developers receive marketing approval in different countries, they expand medication access and allow patients across the globe to have better treatment. According to Korea Biomedical Review, Korea recently…
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Besremi for Polycythemia Vera Approved in Korea