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Many Older People Embrace Vaccines. Research Is Proving Them Right.

Many Older People Embrace Vaccines. Research Is Proving Them Right.

Kim Beckham, an insurance agent in Victoria, Texas, had seen friends suffer so badly from shingles that she wanted to receive the first approved shingles vaccine as soon as it became available, even if she had to pay for it out of pocket.
Her doctor and several pharmacies turned her down because she was below the recommended age at the time, which was 60. So in 2016, she celebrated her 60th birthday at her local CVS.
'I was there when they opened,' Ms. Beckham recalled. After her Zostavax shot, she said, 'I felt really relieved.' She has since received the newer, more effective shingles vaccine, as well as the pneumonia shot, the R.S.V. vaccine, annual flu shots and all recommended Covid vaccinations.
Some older people are really eager to be vaccinated.
Robin Wolaner, 71, a retired publisher in Sausalito, Calif., has been known to badger friends who delay getting recommended shots, sending them relevant medical studies. 'I'm sort of hectoring,' she acknowledged.
Deana Hendrickson, 66, who provides daily care for three young grandsons in Los Angeles, sought an additional M.M.R. shot, though she was vaccinated as a child, in case her immunity to measles was waning.
For older adults who express more confidence in vaccine safety than younger groups, the past few months have brought some welcome research. Studies have found important benefits from a newer vaccine and enhanced versions of older ones, and one vaccine may confer a major bonus that nobody had foreseen.
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Record year for annual Children's Clinic golf outing
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Record year for annual Children's Clinic golf outing

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Sarepta Provides Safety Update for ELEVIDYS and Initiates Steps to Strengthen Safety in Non-Ambulatory Individuals with Duchenne
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 15, 2025-- Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, today provided a safety update regarding ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl), the only approved gene therapy for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and steps the Company is taking to strengthen the safety profile in non-ambulatory patients. These steps follow a second reported case of acute liver failure (ALF) resulting in death. The cases of ALF to date have both occurred in non-ambulatory individuals with Duchenne. Sarepta extends its deepest sympathies to the affected families and care teams. Key Safety Initiatives Evaluating and Enhancing Immunosuppressive Regimen: As part of a comprehensive review of safety data, Sarepta is taking proactive steps to mitigate the risk of acute liver failure in non-ambulatory patients. Sarepta is working to immediately convene an independent group of leading experts in Duchenne and liver health to consider an enhanced immunosuppression regimen for ELEVIDYS. This panel will evaluate data and assess our proposed regimen, which includes sirolimus and is supported by preclinical data demonstrating the effectiveness of additional immunosuppression in moderating liver enzyme elevations, a key factor in mitigating potential safety events. Sarepta will share the panel's recommendations with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and implementation of any new regimen will be subject to FDA guidance and allowance. Suspending Shipments of ELEVIDYS for Non-Ambulatory Patients: Sarepta is temporarily suspending shipments of ELEVIDYS for non-ambulatory patients while an enhanced immunosuppressive regimen is evaluated, discussed with regulatory bodies, and put in place. For ambulatory patients, no treatment changes are being proposed and the current practice of administering corticosteroids before and after ELEVIDYS infusion, along with post-treatment monitoring, remains the same. ENVISION Study Paused: Sarepta has voluntarily paused dosing in the ENVISION clinical study (also known as Study SRP-9001-303). FDA concurs with this action. The pause will allow for the evaluation of a protocol amendment to incorporate an enhanced immunosuppressive regimen for the non-ambulatory patient cohort and incorporate any additional feedback from the FDA. Regulatory alignment is needed before screening and dosing in ENVISION may resume. ENVISION is a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating ELEVIDYS in older ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In the U.S., it serves as the confirmatory trial required under the FDA's accelerated approval pathway for non-ambulatory patients. 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Commitment to Long-Term Safety and Understanding Sarepta remains committed to a thorough approach and the highest standards of patient safety and scientific rigor. The event has been reported to FDA and global health authorities and will inform ongoing discussions around a potential label update to reflect the risk of severe ALF and additional immune management strategies for non-ambulatory patients. While elevated liver enzymes are a known class effect of all AAV-based gene therapies, the exact mechanism behind AAV-related liver toxicity remains unclear. Current evidence suggests it is likely driven by an adaptive immune response. The Company will provide additional updates as appropriate. Investor Conference Call Details Sarepta will be hosting a conference call and webcast to discuss this update and provide an update on the Company's business on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 8:00 am Eastern time. The event will be webcast live under the investor relations section of Sarepta's website at: and following the event a replay will be archived there for one year. Interested parties participating by phone will need to register using this online form. After registering for dial-in details, all phone participants will receive an auto-generated e-mail containing a link to the dial-in number along with a personal PIN number to use to access the event by phone. About ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) is a single-dose, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene transfer therapy for intravenous infusion designed to address the underlying genetic cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy – mutations or changes in the DMD gene that result in the lack of dystrophin protein – through the delivery of a transgene that codes for the targeted production of ELEVIDYS micro-dystrophin in skeletal muscle. ELEVIDYS is indicated for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in individuals at least 4 years of age. The DMD indication in non-ambulatory patients is approved under accelerated approval based on expression of ELEVIDYS micro-dystrophin in skeletal muscle. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s). IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATION: ELEVIDYS is contraindicated in patients with any deletion in exon 8 and/or exon 9 in the DMD gene. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS: Infusion-related Reactions: Acute Serious Liver Injury: Immune-mediated Myositis: Myocarditis: Preexisting Immunity against AAVrh74: Adverse Reactions: Report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Sarepta Therapeutics at 1-888-SAREPTA (1-888-727-3782). For further information, please see the full Prescribing Information. About Sarepta Therapeutics Sarepta is on an urgent mission: engineer precision genetic medicine for rare diseases that devastate lives and cut futures short. We hold leadership positions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) and are building a robust portfolio of programs across muscle, central nervous system, and cardiac diseases. For more information, please visit or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook. Internet Posting of Information We routinely post information that may be important to investors in the 'For Investors' section of our website We encourage investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about us. Forward-Looking Statements This statement contains 'forward-looking statements.' Any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'plan,' 'expect,' 'will,' 'may,' 'intend,' 'prepare,' 'look,' 'potential,' 'possible' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to our future operations, research and development programs, clinical trials, ELEVIDYS, the potential benefits of an enhanced immunosuppression regimen in dosing in non-ambulatory patients, and expected plans and milestones, including providing additional updates as appropriate and engaging with regulators on an enhanced immunosuppressive regimen for dosing in non-ambulatory patients. Actual results could materially differ from those stated or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Known risk factors include the following: different methodologies, assumptions and applications we use to assess particular safety or efficacy parameters may yield different statistical results, and even if we believe the data collected from clinical trials are positive, these data may not be sufficient to support approval by the FDA or other global regulatory authorities; success in clinical trials, especially if based on a small patient sample, does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and the results of future research may not be consistent with past positive results or with advisory committee recommendations, or may fail to meet regulatory approval requirements for the safety and efficacy of product candidates; our products or product candidates may be perceived as insufficiently effective, unsafe or may result in unforeseen adverse events; our products or product candidates may cause undesirable side effects that result in significant negative consequences following any marketing approval; we may not be able to comply with all FDA requests in a timely manner or at all; the possible impact of regulations and regulatory decisions by the FDA and other regulatory agencies on our business; and those risks identified under the heading 'Risk Factors' in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other SEC filings made by the Company, which you are encouraged to source version on CONTACT: Investor Contact: Ian Estepan 617-274-4052 [email protected] Contacts: Tracy Sorrentino 617-301-8566 [email protected] Hoeger 617-710-3898 [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MASSACHUSETTS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: INFECTIOUS DISEASES HEALTH GENETICS PHARMACEUTICAL CLINICAL TRIALS SOURCE: Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/15/2025 01:00 AM/DISC: 06/15/2025 01:01 AM

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