targeting Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2i at its source.
ML Bio Solutions aims to develop the first-ever safe and effective substrate supplementation therapy for Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2i (LGMD2i), a rare genetic disease causing muscle degeneration and leading to immobility, respiratory impairment and cardiac failure.
What is LGMD2i?
LGMD2i (also called “LGMD R9 FKRP-related” in the new proposed nomenclature) is an inherited disease caused by a mutation in the FKRP gene. Although the disease is primarily diagnosed in adolescents 10 – 20 years old, children have been diagnosed as young as two years old. Patients with LGMD2i experience progressive muscle weakness, that affects skeletal, respiratory and cardiac muscles. While every patient experience is different, muscle weakness typically begins in the shoulder and hip areas, resulting in the need for assistance with mobility.
The FKRP gene is involved in helping muscles build a glycoprotein called alpha dystroglycan. Alpha dystroglycan acts as a “shock absorber,” and when it doesn’t work correctly, as occurs in patients with LGMD2i, the shock absorbing function is significantly reduced. This leads to damage to muscle tissue and replacement, over time, with scar-like, fibrotic tissue. As fibrotic tissue overtakes healthy muscle tissue, muscle strength and function declines, and patients lose the ability to perform routine daily activities unassisted – such as walking or standing up.
Over time, muscle degeneration can become so excessive as to result in respiratory and cardiovascular issues, leading to respiratory or cardiac arrest and death. Currently, people with LGMD2i have no treatment options beyond steroid injections and other symptom and pain management techniques. The LGMD2i community has made exceptional strides to spread awareness of the unmet medical need, as well as to create a network connecting patients with physician experts in the field of neuromuscular diseases.
For additional information and resources, several advocacy organizations are working to help people diagnosed with LGMD2i as well as their families. Links to specific sites are below.
Affected Muscles
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skeletal muscle
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respiratory muscle
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cardiac muscle
Science
Alpha Dystroglycan is an essential component of a muscular shock absorber that contributes to structural integrity of muscle cells during the beating of our hearts, the expansion and contraction of our chests during breathing, and the movement of our arm and leg muscles. Glycoproteins like alpha dystroglycan join in an array with muscles made possible by enzymes – including FKRP – that add sugars to alpha dystroglycan in an assembly line-like fashion. Mutations in the gene that codes for FKRP cause the genetic disease limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2i (LGMD2i), where alpha dystroglycan can’t work effectively as a shock absorber and, as a result, muscles sustain damage over time.
BBP-418 is a sugar that the body produces naturally and supplements the substrate that is incorporated into alpha dystroglycan to allow it to function normally. Published studies have validated both the role of BBP-418 as a limiting constituent to alpha dystroglycan’s shock absorber function, as well as BBP-418’s therapeutic potential in treating patients affected by mutations to FKRP. ML Bio Solutions is translating this breakthrough into affected patients as quickly as possible.
Different forms of LGMD2i exist, depending on the severity of the specific gene mutation. In the United States, LGMD2i has a prevalence of more than one in every 250,000 persons. There is currently no effective or disease-modifying treatment available to patients.
How Is BBP-418 Different?
Healthy Muscle Tissue
LGMD2i
ML Bio Solutions
LGMD2i Natural History Study
ML Bio Solutions is advancing the first-ever oral treatment for LGMD2i – BBP-418, which is the substrate inefficiently added to the alpha-dystroglycan “shock absorber” by the mutated FKRP gene. This treatment may enhance, and partially compensate for, diminished muscle function caused by the genetic driver of the disease.
A natural history study in LGMD2i is ongoing in order to collect information about what endpoints and metrics most consistently reflect meaningful clinical outcomes for patients. Studies like this are often integral in developing effective treatments for disease – particularly rare diseases like LGMD2i. For more information on the study and how to participate, please contact Brittney Holmberg at Brittney.Holmberg@vcuhealth.org or 804-552-0014.
Here are the study sites for the Natural History Study:
Currently Active Site
Pending Site
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University of California Irvine
Irvine, California, United States, 92697
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UC Denver
Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
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University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32610
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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
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Kansas University Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160
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Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
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Brigham and Women’s
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02035
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Washington University School of Medicine
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
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Atrium Health
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, 28207
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Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43205
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Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298
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Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center
Copenhagen, Denmark
We Put Patients First
- At ML Bio Solutions we work to establish and build relationships with the LGMD2i community.
- We respect the independence of patient organizations and the unique perspective of every advocate, patient, and family member.
- We actively seek to include the perspective of patients, families, and advocates in the drug development process by listening and learning from them.
- We are seeking to develop a drug that is safe and effective for patients.
Patient Resources
Deciding to Participate in a Clinical Trial: A video that can help you make decisions about clinical trial participation.
ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.
This video is courtesy of Courageous Parents Network. Visit courageousparentsnetwork.org for more parent and provider content on evaluating the clinical trial option.
Genetic Testing 101: An informational video about genetic testing.
What is genetic testing? Genetic testing confirms the specific gene mutagions implicated in a genetic condition. Confirmation of diagnosis is necessary for participation in clinical trials and to be eligible for treatments as they are developed.
Information about Free genetic testing: The Lantern Project Sanofi Genzyme is partnering with PerkinElmer Genomics to offer a complimentary genetic testing program called The Lantern Project. It offers free diagnostic testing for several disorders, including LGMD.
About Us
ML Bio Solutions (ML Bio) is a biotechnology company founded by the McColl and Lockwood families after Jane Lockwood, McColl’s granddaughter and Lockwood’s daughter, was diagnosed with LGMD2i. She was five years old. Today, nearly 18 years later, ML Bio is developing BBP-418, potentially the first oral treatment for patients with LGMD2i.
Management
George McLendon, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Anna Devries, JD, MHA
Vice President of Operations
Sandy Mong, M.D.
Vice President of Business Development and Development Operations
Uma Sinha, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Douglas M. Sproule, M.D., MSc
Chief Medical Officer
Board of Directors
George McLendon, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Luther Lockwood
Board Chair
Rasu Shrestha, M.D.
Scientific Founder
Qi Long Lu, M.D., Ph.D.
ML Bio Solutions IS A MEMBER OF THE BRIDGEBIO FAMILY
BridgeBio is a team of experienced drug discoverers, developers and innovators working to create life-altering medicines that target well-characterized genetic diseases at their source. BridgeBio was founded in 2015 to identify and advance transformative medicines to treat patients who suffer from Mendelian diseases, which are diseases that arise from defects in a single gene, and cancers with clear genetic drivers. BridgeBio’s pipeline of over 15 development programs includes product candidates ranging from early discovery to
late-stage development.
Our Partners
Several advocacy organizations are working to help people who are living with neuromuscular diseases and their families. Below are links to these organizations. Click on the logo to be directed to their web sites where you can find resources, information, videos and opportunities to connect with others.
