The First Treatment for a Rare Neurodegenerative Condition Awaits FDA Approval

Spinocerebellar ataxia includes a group of rare, genetic, neurodegenerative disorders. People with the condition suffer from the loss of balance, coordination, and muscle control. As the condition progresses, people can lose the ability to walk and speak. There is no approved treatment for SCA, but Biohaven has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin marketing its experimental therapy troriluzole, which can normalize levels of glutamate, a key neurotransmitter implicated in the disease. We spoke to Melissa Beiner, senior medical director at Biohaven, about spinocerebellar ataxia, the company’s therapy under review at the FDA to treat the condition, and why it may have the potential to benefit a number of other neurological conditions as well.