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WASHINGTON — Terry Jo Bichell earned a master’s degree in public health, became an expert in pregnancy-related deaths, and made documentary films about women’s health projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Nigeria and Senegal. But nothing prepared her for the news that her baby, Louie, had Angelman syndrome. It was 17 years…

People with Angelman syndrome and other rare diseases need more psychosocial support, an Oregon State University study reports. A lot of the support can be similar, cutting across the types of disorders that patients have, the team said. It’s common for people with rare diseases to have more anxiety, depression, pain and…

Mutations in the VARS2 gene, which is involved in mitochondrial function, may lead to an Angelman syndrome-like disorder, according to a case report published in the journal Human Genomics. The case was presented by a research team at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awarded a fast track designation to Ovid Therapeutics’ OV101 for the treatment of Angelman syndrome. The designation allows for expedited development and review of therapeutics for serious diseases with high unmet medical need. “This designation is an important milestone for both Ovid…

The melatonin secretion profile of patients with Angelman syndrome is impaired, leading to a variety of sleep problems, a new study shows. The study, “Melatonin and Angelman syndrome – implications and mathematical model of diurnal secretion,” was published in the International Journal of Endocrinology. Sleep disturbances…

A group of designers from around the world will be showcasing their latest designs on April 28, 2018, in New York City while the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) raises funds to support research for a cure for Angelman syndrome (AS). Credit: Katherine Angelique…

In rare cases, loss of part of the UBE3A gene can lead to Angelman syndrome, Spanish researchers report. The team at the Autonomous University of Barcelona based their conclusion on a case study of two children with Angelman features. Their work added to the little knowledge there is about gene deletions causing…

Ovid Therapeutics will modify its ongoing Phase 2 trial of OV101 to add adolescents with Angelman syndrome aged 13 and older to the adults it continues to recruit. The decision came after a Phase 1 trial showed that adolescents process the drug the same way adults do, suggesting it…

Ovid Therapeutics presented data from several studies that support the clinical development of the investigational therapy TAK-935/OV935 as a potential treatment for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. These results are particularly significant for Angelman syndrome patients, 85 percent of whom suffer from some form of epilepsy. The findings from…

This year’s FAST Summit & Gala in Chicago generated a record $4.1 million for Angelman syndrome research — more than triple the $1.3 million raised at the 2016 gala. Colin Farrell and other Hollywood stars who attended the dinner on Dec. 2 helped attract nearly 1,300 people to the two-day…