Episode 112: Exploring Dimethyl Fumarate to Treat Friedreich Ataxia

Francesco Saccà, MD, PhD

Episode 112 of the NeurologyLive^® Mind Moments^® podcast is now live! Scroll down to listen or click here to subscribe on your favorite streaming service.

The Mind Moments podcast features exclusive interviews with leaders in the field discussing the latest research and disease management strategies across the breadth of neurology, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, dementia, sleep disorders, and more.

Episode 112, "Exploring Dimethyl Fumarate to Treat Friedreich Ataxia" features a conversation with Francesco Saccà, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Naples, who discussed an ongoing study assessing the use of dimethyl fumarate, an approved therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis, in patients with Friedreich ataxia (FA). He spoke on the mechanism of action of the agent and why it can be beneficial in this patient population, as well as how it differs from omaveloxolone (Skyclarys; Biogen), the first approved treatment for FA. In addition, he outlined the study design, the primary end point of frataxin decrease, and what would be considered a "successful" study. Furthermore, he spoke on the reasons behind the trial and what led investigators to this point.

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

• FDA Approves Alexion's Ravulizumab-cwvz for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
• Epilepsy Agent STK-001 Demonstrates Disease-Modifying Effects in Early Phase Studies of Dravet Syndrome
• Eisai Submits sBLA for Monthly Intravenous Maintenance Dosing of Alzheimer Therapy Lecanemab

This episode is brought to you by Medical World News, a streaming channel from MJH Life Sciences^®. Check out new content and shows every day, only at medicalworldnews.com

EPISODE BREAKDOWN

• 1:05 – Origin of the study
• 3:00 – Conduct of the study, end points, goals 
• 5:10 – Promising mechanism of action of dimethyl fumarate to treat Friedreich ataxia
• 7:30 – Questions in clinical impact of changes in frataxin
• 10:00 – Neurology News Minute
• 12:40 – What is considered a successful study?
• 14:55 – Patient inclusion, demographic makeup of the study
• 16:35 – Timeline of the trial and data readout

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