Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

The first in-person workshop of the Rare Disease Cures Accelerator-Data and Analytics Platform (RDCA-DAP) initiative — going on its fourth edition and set for Sept. 13-14 — will focus on developing a treatment for rare disorders, such as aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, through data sharing and…

The goal of this year’s Global Genes RARE Patient Advocacy Summit, slated for Sept. 12–14, is to connect rare disease patients, advocates, caregivers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders — including those involved with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. “For people living with any of the 10,000+ rare…

A total of 30 patient advocacy groups working to further understanding and the needs of people living with rare diseases have been selected to receive a Horizon Therapeutics‘ #RAREis Global Advocate Grant. Winners of this year’s inaugural awards are spread across nine countries and represent a total of 29 rare…

More than half of the people with rare diseases and their caregivers, asked in a survey, were undecided or less than willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if a vaccine was approved under emergency use authorization instead of the routine process, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Disease reports. These findings…

The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is accepting applications for a scholarship program that aims to help adults with a rare disease pursue personal goals through training and education. For a second year, the #RAREis Scholarship Fund — supported by Horizon Therapeutics – will award 35 one-time scholarships, each…

Measuring 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) levels in dried blood spots could help in diagnosing aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, a recent study suggests. This approach would be less invasive for patients, who often undergo multiple lumbar punctures before a final diagnosis, and could be used to screen for the disease in newborns.

PTC Therapeutics is planning to request U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of PTC-AADC, its investigational gene therapy to treat aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, the company announced in a corporate update. The request will be made in the form of a biologics license application to the FDA in…

The number of treatments for children with rare diseases has grown over the past decade, according to a new study. However, despite the increase, nearly 7,000 rare diseases are still lacking treatment. And federal incentives to boost treatment development for these rare diseases have primarily focused not on creating new…

A new mutation in the DDC gene, the underlying cause of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, has been identified in two Chinese siblings diagnosed with the disease. The case report highlights the need for a wide screen of the Chinese population — which is the most affected by the…