Local 7-year-old gets ‘new lease on life' after new gene therapy
Lucas Solano was diagnosed with an incurable muscle disease at a young age. Something as simple as walking up stairs wasn't possible for Salano before the therapy.
'When he was a baby, he was a toddler: completely normal, he would climb up the stairs, he crawled, he walked within normal age range, and then all of a sudden it was like he couldn't play outside, he would ask for help to get upstairs,' Mother Maria Solano said.
Maria says her son was diagnosed with a muscle deterioration disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
ALSO READ: Atrium Health gives free health screenings to 2,000 student athletes
However, Lucas' life changed about six months ago. He was the first at Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital to receive the new gene therapy that produces a missing protein that helps build muscle.
It's changed his life completely.
'He has a whole new lease on life,' Maria Solano said.
The therapy is all about building muscle strength.
'The whole idea is that we are able to improve their muscle strength and be able to continue to walk for a longer period of time,' Dr. Urvi Desai said.
Desai said children diagnosed with the disease can lose their ability to walk in their teens and die young and says the new treatment is allowing Lucas to live his best life, doing things he loves.
'There's always hope and he's a testament to that, Sergio Solano, Lucas' father, said.
Lucas received treatment in December. Atrium Health says since then, 5 more children have received it.
Atrium said three more children are set to get the therapy in August.
(WATCH BELOW: Atrium Health launches home care program for pediatric patients)
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Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. # # # Attachment 250813 - Santhera Gen Ilac Turkey Distribution Agreement
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FDA's Reversal on Gene Therapy Helps My Son
Thank you for your editorial 'On Sarepta, a Welcome FDA Reversal' (Review & Outlook, July 30). As a parent of an 11-year-old son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, I know the devastation this diagnosis brings. I also know the hope that gene therapy such as Elevidys can bring. Such therapies have helped my son, Andrew, fight back against a disease that once offered no chance to do so. I'm concerned about the recent debate surrounding Elevidys and gene therapies like it. The death of any patient participating in a clinical trial is heartbreaking. Such tragedies and regulatory reactions to them risk casting a shadow over therapies like Elevidys.
