Anti-gene oligonucleotides targeting Friedreichs ataxia expanded GAA:TTC repeats increase Frataxin expression

Anti-gene oligonucleotides targeting Friedreichs ataxia expanded GAA:TTC repeats increase Frataxin expression, Negin Mozafari, Salome Isabel Marques Milagres, Cristina Simoes Jesus Rocha, Claudia Marina Vargiu, Fiona Freyberger, Osama Saher, Tea Umek, Pontus Blomberg, Per Trolle Jorgensen, Edvard Carl Igne Smith, Jesper Wengel, Rula L Zain, bioRxiv 2024.01.25.577034; doi:10.1101/2024.01.25.577034 

We examined numerous LNA-DNA AGOs and found that the design, length and their LNA composition have a high impact on the effectiveness of the treatment. Collectively, our results demonstrate the unique capability of specifically designed ONs targeting the GAA:TTC DNA repeats to upregulate FXN gene expression.

Omaveloxolone for the treatment of Friedreich Ataxia: clinical trial results and practical considerations

David R Lynch, Susan Perlman & Kim Schadt (2024) Omaveloxolone for the treatment of Friedreich Ataxia: clinical trial results and practical considerations, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2310617 

Omaveloxolone provides a significant advance in treatment of FRDA that is likely to be beneficial in a majority of the FRDA population. The data suggesting a benefit is consistent, and adverse issues are relatively modest. The major remaining questions are the subgroups that are most responsive and how long the beneficial effects will remain significant in FRDA patients.

Emerging antioxidant therapies in Friedreich's ataxia

Fred J. Edzeamey, Zenouska Ramchunder, Charareh Pourzand, Sara Anjomani Virmoun, Front. Pharmacol. Sec. Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1359618 

The confirmation of oxidative stress as one of the pathological signatures of FRDA led to the search for antioxidants which can be used as therapeutic modality. Based on this observation, antioxidants with different mechanisms of action have been explored for FRDA therapy since the last two decades. In this review, we bring forth all antioxidants which have been investigated for FRDA therapy and have been signed off for clinical trials. We summarise their various target points in FRDA disease pathway, their performances during clinical trials and possible factors which might have accounted for their failure or otherwise during clinical trials. We also discuss the limitation of the studies completed and propose possible strategies for combinatorial therapy of antioxidants to generate synergistic effect in FRDA patients. treatment modality for FRDA.