Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review Catalyst Pharmaceuticals’ request to raise to 100 mg the maximum recommended daily dose of Firdapse (amifampridine), its approved treatment for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). Firdapse’s label allows for an 80 mg maximum daily dose…

People with one or more rare diseases, such as Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), face a wide range of obstacles that call attention to the need for better support and resources, according to a survey of patients living in Québec, Canada. Such obstacles include diagnostic uncertainty, condescending attitudes from healthcare…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is hosting community listening sessions for Latino and Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. living with rare diseases, such as Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). The series of in-person and virtual meetings — called “Latino/a/x & Hispanohablantes Community Listening Sessions” — will be…

People with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with the immune-based cancer therapy atezolizumab are at an increased risk of developing Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), according to a database analysis of adverse events. The analysis was detailed in a study, “Increased risk of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS)…

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) arose in association with a rare type of aggressive skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a case study reported for the first time. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, which may be a suitable strategy for those…

Muscle responses to low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation in people with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) were different from those of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), a study reported. Because LEMS and MG are both autoimmune diseases marked by muscle weakness and other overlapping symptoms, this test may help distinguish…

Plasma exchange therapy eased the symptoms of a man with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) who tested negative for disease-related autoantibodies, according to a case series study. Researchers noted that a diagnosis of LEMS often relies on the presence of autoantibodies — immune proteins that mistakenly target a…

A rare case of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) triggered by an immune-related cancer therapy was recently described in a case study. Because immunotherapy is relatively new, patients receiving these treatments should be monitored for “unexpected and unknown side effects,” the researchers noted. The case study, “Lambert-Eaton…

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals has announced its partner DyDo Pharma has launched a Phase 3 registrational trial in Japan to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Firdapse (amifampridine) to treat Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). A registrational trial is designed to obtain sufficient clinical data to support the filing…

Firdapse (amifampridine) improved muscle strength and response to nerve cell stimulation in adults with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), a pooled analysis of six clinical trials demonstrated. The findings showed that all six previous trials together “showed significant efficacy, consistent with earlier reports of beneficial efficacy” of Firdapse —…