News

Eurordis, a Paris-based coalition of national rare disease associations across Europe, hosted its first all-virtual conference, bringing some 1,500 delegates from 57 countries together online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10th European Conference on Rare Diseases & Orphan Products (ECRD2020) — which was set for May 14–15 in…

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is still expecting Firdapse (amifampridine) to be approved for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in Canada later this year, the company announced in an update. The company’s new drug submission (NDS) to Health Canada seeking approval…

The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) has opened an online survey to better understand how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting people with rare diseases, their families, and caregivers. Survey questions cover a patient’s physical and mental health, supply of treatments, and access to healthcare, among other…

Japanese patients with Lambert‐Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) show long-term neurological improvements with treatment regardless of whether they also have small cell lung cancer (SCLC), researchers report. The study, “Long‐term prognosis of Japanese Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome patients with or without small‐cell lung carcinoma,” was published in the journal Clinical…

Increments, or increases in nerve responses, greater than 60% in electromyography (EMG) recordings upon short periods of exercise are better at diagnosing Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) than the commonly used 100% increment, results from a recent study indicate. The study, “Lowering the…

While there are few silver linings to the cloud created by COVID-19, the pandemic that has killed tens of thousands, hobbled economies worldwide and drove millions to quarantine in their homes, one may be a new appreciation of telemedicine. “If something good could come out of this crisis, it’s that…

FFF Enterprises and Bionews announced today that both rare and orphan disease advocates are joining forces to provide patients with resources to help them connect as a community and continue to manage their health during this time when many are finding themselves alone. Recognized as the nation’s leading supplier of…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has opened a financial assistance program for people in rare disease community who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Called the NORD COVID-19 Critical Relief Program, the effort will provide up to $1,000 annually to those eligible to…

In a business update amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals said it has ample supplies of Firdapse (amifampridine), its treatment for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). Besides having no known disruptions to Firdapse production, the company assured its treatment inventories will last at least through June 2021. Catalyst’s U.S.

A group of experts have provided a series of recommendations for people with myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) who rely on immunosuppressants to help manage their condition during the COVID-19 outbreak. Their guidelines, titled “Guidance for the management of myasthenia…