Ashraf Malhas, PhD,  —

Better Method of Stem Cell Generation Shows Potential for Treating Epidermolysis Bullosa

Researchers have developed a new technique that improves the efficiency of generating stem cells from patients with various diseases, including epidermolysis bullosa, with the goal of one day applying it in clinical use. Scientists already had developed methods by which cells from an adult donor can be “reprogrammed” to become stem…

New Mutations Account for Genetically Unsolved Cases of EBS, Researchers Say

New mutations in KRT5, the gene coding for keratin 5, one of the major structural components of the skin epidermis, account for previously unsolved cases of basal epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a study has found. Mutations in the genes KRT5 and KRT14, which code for keratins 5 and 14, are…

Abeona’s Cell Therapy for Recessive Dystrophic EB Granted FDA Breakthrough Therapy Status

EB-101, a gene therapy developed by Abeona Therapeutics, has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). This designation is granted to investigative therapies that the FDA believes may show a substantial improvement over existing…