muscular dystrophy

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Lululemon Founder Investing Fortune to Cure His Disease

Bloomberg profiles Chip Wilson and his fight against form of muscular dystrophy

(Newser) - The founder of athleisure company Lululemon has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and he's spending millions to find a cure before time runs out. Bloomberg details Chip Wilson's story, from becoming an entrepreneur in the outdoor and fitness realm (when he was first diagnosed in the late...

He Writes About Health, Has a Disease He Can't Fix

Andrew Zaleski discusses his myotonic dystrophy diagnosis in a piece for 'GQ'

(Newser) - Andrew Zaleski has spent three years covering health and nutrition for GQ . "I am just a reporter," he writes, but delving into what's best for the body has caused him to change his diet and warm to other health habits in a quest for everything from better...

This Drug Just Got the FDA's OK—and an $89K Price Tag

Marathon Pharmaceuticals to sell deflazacort for $89K

(Newser) - A drug sold for years overseas to treat a rare form of muscular dystrophy was OKed Thursday by the FDA to be sold in the US, but it comes at a high price. The Wall Street Journal reports the now-FDA-approved deflazacort will be offered by Marathon Pharmaceuticals for $89,000...

In 'Perplexing' Move, FDA Approves First Muscular Dystrophy Drug

Drug is controversial, not clear how effective it is

(Newser) - Federal regulators on Monday granted tentative approval to the first drug for muscular dystrophy, following an intense public campaign from patients and doctors who pushed for the largely unproven medication, the AP reports. The approval came despite an internal dispute among Food and Drug Administration officials that ultimately had to...

Service Dog Takes World's Cutest Yearbook Photo

Presley and 7th-grader Seph Ware are inseparable

(Newser) - The cutest yearbook photo ever was just taken by Presley at Good Hope Middle School in Louisiana. In fairness to everyone else's not-quite-as-cute yearbook photos, Presley is a 5-year-old golden doodle. She's also a service dog for seventh-grader Joseph "Seph" Ware, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular...

Man Plans to Become 'Human Backpack' on Euro-Trip

Kevan Chandler will travel despite muscular dystrophy

(Newser) - Kevan Chandler's muscular dystrophy keeps him confined to a wheelchair, but he still plans to go backpacking in Europe with four friends this summer. The catch: Chandler himself will be a backpack. "These guys want to make this happen," says Chandler of his buddies, per CBS News...

Family's 4 Kids Mysteriously Losing Ability to Walk
 Family's 4 Kids 
 Mysteriously Losing 
 Ability to Walk 
in case you missed it
Jul 11, 2015 7:00 PM CDT

Family's 4 Kids Mysteriously Losing Ability to Walk

Doctors still can't pinpoint exactly what their condition is

(Newser) - Having one child with a rare muscular disease would buck the odds; having four kids affected by it is downright astonishing. That's the plight of 23-year-old Rivka, 22-year-old Tziporah, 18-year-old Tzvi, and 15-year-old Racheli Herzfeld, four siblings from Teaneck, NJ, who are fighting what Fox News calls a "...

'Fake Disability' Daughter Linked to Mom's Murder

Clauddinnea "Dee Dee" Blanchard was killed last week

(Newser) - The stabbing death of a Missouri mom is looking like a sordid tale right out of the Louisiana bayous. Police arrested Gypsy Blanchard, 23, and her boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, 26, on Monday for the first-degree murder of Gypsy's mom, 48-year-old Clauddinnea "Dee Dee" Blanchard—who was slain in...

Victory for Man Who Came Last in Chicago Marathon

Has muscular dystrophy, finished race in 17 hours

(Newser) - The Chicago Marathon last place getter may also be its biggest winner. Maickel Melamed, 38, is battling muscular dystrophy, but still managed to finish the entire race with a time of 16 hours and 46 minutes. The Venezuelan crossed the finish line at 1am this morning, surrounded by 100 people,...

Missing From This Year's MDA Telethon: Jerry Lewis

Comedian no longer national chair, won't appear over Labor Day weekend

(Newser) - It's the end of an era: He's been the Muscular Dystrophy Association's national chairman since the early 1950s and the host of its Labor Day telethon since 1966. But as of this year, Jerry Lewis is neither—and he won't even be appearing on this year'...

Jerry Lewis Raises Record $64M
Jerry Lewis Raises Record $64M
Sep 4, 2007 7:17 AM CDT

Jerry Lewis Raises Record $64M

Eclipses last year's total by $3 million to help fight Muscular Dystrophy

(Newser) - Comedian Jerry Lewis certainly didn't take the day off: his 42nd Labor Day telethon yesterday pulled in a record $64 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. "We did it. We did it. We can go shopping," enthused the 81-year-old showman after pulling in $3 million more than last...

Drug Targets Hundreds of Disorders
Drug Targets Hundreds of Disorders
Apr 23, 2007 8:42 AM CDT

Drug Targets Hundreds of Disorders

Magic bullet hits mutations that prompt 1,800 genetic diseases

(Newser) - A magic bullet that could treat cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia and more than 1,800 other genetic disorders could be available by 2009. Lee Sweeney of UPenn, leader of the team developing the drug, tells the Times of London: “It doesn’t just target one mutation that causes...

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