PTC Therapeutics.

Aim: Strategic Targeting of Registries and International Database of Excellence (STRIDE) is an ongoing, multicenter registry providing real-world evidence regarding ataluren use in patients with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (nmDMD). We examined the effectiveness of ataluren + standard of care (SoC) in the registry versus SoC alone in the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG) Duchenne Natural History Study (DNHS), DMD genotype–phenotype/–ataluren benefit correlations and ataluren safety. Patients & methods: Propensity score matching was performed to identify STRIDE and CINRG DNHS patients who were comparable in established disease progression predictors (registry cut-off date, 9 July 2018). Results & conclusion: Kaplan–Meier analyses demonstrated that ataluren + SoC significantly delayed age at loss of ambulation and age at worsening performance in timed function tests versus SoC alone (p ≤ 0.05). There were no DMD genotype–phenotype/ataluren benefit correlations. Ataluren was well tolerated. These results indicate that ataluren + SoC delays functional milestones of DMD progression in patients with nmDMD in routine clinical practice. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02369731. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02369731.

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To our knowledge, this is the largest study of patients with SUCLA2 and SUCLG1 deficiency. The most important findings were a significantly longer survival in patients with SUCLA2 mutations compared to SUCLG1 mutations and a trend towards longer survival in patients with missense mutations compared to loss-of-function mutations. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and liver involvement was exclusively found in patients with SUCLG1 mutations, whereas epilepsy was much more frequent in patients with SUCLA2 mutations compared to patients with SUCLG1 mutations. The mutation analysis revealed a number of novel mutations, including a homozygous deletion of the entire SUCLA2 gene, and we found evidence of two founder mutations in the Scandinavian population, in addition to the known SUCLA2 founder mutation in the Faroe Islands.

GEMIN5, an RNA-binding protein is essential for assembly of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein complex and facilitates the formation of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), the building blocks of spliceosomes. Here, we have identified 30 affected individuals from 22 unrelated families presenting with developmental delay, hypotonia, and cerebellar ataxia harboring biallelic variants in the GEMIN5 gene. Mutations in GEMIN5 perturb the subcellular distribution, stability, and expression of GEMIN5 protein and its interacting partners in patient iPSC-derived neurons, suggesting a potential loss-of-function mechanism. GEMIN5 mutations result in disruption of snRNP complex assembly formation in patient iPSC neurons. Furthermore, knock down of rigor mortis, the fly homolog of human GEMIN5, leads to developmental defects, motor dysfunction, and a reduced lifespan. Interestingly, we observed that GEMIN5 variants disrupt a distinct set of transcripts and pathways as compared to SMA patient neurons, suggesting different molecular pathomechanisms. These findings collectively provide evidence that pathogenic variants in GEMIN5 perturb physiological functions and result in a neurodevelopmental delay and ataxia syndrome.

Objective: We report natural history data in a large cohort of 199 patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type III assessed using the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE). The aim of the study was to establish the annual rate and possible patterns of progression according to a number of variables, such as age of onset, age at assessment, SMN2 copy number, and functional status. Methods: HFMSE longitudinal changes were assessed using piecewise linear mixed-effects models. The dependency in the data due to repeated measures was accounted for by a random intercept per individual and an unstructured View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com.

Aim: Strategic Targeting of Registries and International Database of Excellence (STRIDE) is an ongoing, multicenter registry providing real-world evidence regarding ataluren use in patients with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in clinical practice (NCT02369731). Here, we describe the initial demographic characteristics of the registry population. Patients & methods: Patients will be followed up from enrollment for ≥5 years or until study withdrawal. Results & conclusion: As of 9 July 2018, 213 DMD boys were enrolled from 11 countries. Mean (standard deviation) ages at first symptoms and at study treatment start were 2.7 (1.7) years and 9.8 (3.7) years, respectively. Corticosteroids were used by 190 patients (89.2%) before data cut-off. Mean (standard deviation) ataluren exposure was 639.0 (362.9) days. Six patients withdrew. STRIDE is the first drug registry for patients with DMD and represents the largest real-world registry of patients with nmDMD to date.