News

With the U.S. midterm elections now less than two weeks away, patient advocacy groups are solidly focused on a range of hot-button issues, from the Orphan Drug Tax Credit and affordable health insurance to future funding for rare disease research. Yet “whether Democrats take over the House or Senate,…

Using stimulated single-fiber electromyography is associated with an early and accurate diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, according to a case report. The study, “Stimulated single-fiber electromyography (sSFEMG) in Lambert-Eaton syndrome,” was published in the journal Clinical Neurophysiology Practice. Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune disease that…

Half a year has gone by since disgraced pharma executive Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for securities and wire fraud while heading San Diego-based Retrophin. As founder and CEO of another company (then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals), in late 2015 Shkreli bought the rights…

More than 700 medical experts, pharmaceutical executives, patient advocates, and others are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., next month for the 2018 NORD Rare Diseases & Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit. The Oct. 15-16 event, sponsored by the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), takes place at the…

A quick and noninvasive test, called the triple-timed up-and-go test, is a reliable and reproducible tool to assess muscle weakness in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) patients, according to a study. Results from the study will be presented at the upcoming American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) Annual…

A new case report describes a patient with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), small cell cervical cancer and breast cancer. This is the first report of a LEMS patient with two different cancers and underlines the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment. The case study, “Lambert-Eaton…

Contrary to current thinking, testing for levels of antibodies against voltage-gated calcium channels may not be highly specific for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), researchers caution in a recent study. The study, “Low specificity of voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: a call for caution,” was published…

A new case study describes a patient with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), myasthenia gravis (MG), and metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The report from Shandong, China, is titled “Coexistence of myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in a small cell lung cancer patient:…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Catalyst Pharmaceuticals’ new drug application (NDA) for Firdapse (amifampridine phosphate) for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), with priority review status. Firdapse is a formulation of amifampridine phosphate in development for the treatment of LEMS as well as other conditions. Several clinical studies have…

Patients with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and cerebellar ataxia may have autoantibodies against calcium channels, a Mayo Clinic study indicates. The study, titled “Calcium Channel Autoimmunity: Cerebellar Ataxia and Lambert-Eaton Syndrome Coexisting,” appeared in the journal Muscle & Nerve. Patients with LEMS typically show muscle…