Genepod - Elamipritide: A treatment for Barth syndrome

Barth syndrome, an exceedingly rare genetic condition that affects only males, causes heart disease and immune deficiencies–and there’s no known treatment that addresses the cause of the disease. On this month’s GenePod, Hilary Vernon, MD, PhD, associate professor of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, describes a study of elamipretide, a compound already under clinical investigation that, based on its effectiveness in targeting mitochondria, she and her colleagues thought might help their Barth syndrome patients. Based on the results of the study, Dr. Vernon says elamipritide could become the primary treatment for Barth syndrome. Tune in! Related article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41436-020-01006-8