Treatment of
Huntington's disease
The treatment of Huntington's disease (HD) may undergo a revolution in the coming years.
That's because some drugs are being studied for the treatment of Huntington's Disease.
The new drugs that seek to treat Huntington's Disease are in human studies, and act on the disease gene itself.
In this way, the drugs seek to reduce the expression of the diseased gene, reducing the symptoms and, perhaps, the progression of the disease. These drugs are not yet available. Some of these medicines had in 2020, some stages interrupted. But it is hoped that in the coming years we will have more effective drugs.
But are there any new drugs for Huntington's Disease?
In 2022, a new drug was approved for theHuntington's disease, called Austedo® (deutetrabenazine).
Austedo is a medicine used for the symptoms of chorea, present in Huntington's Disease
Austedo does not seek, however, to prevent the progression of the disease. But it can be helpful in controlling the symptom of chorea. Especially when under medical follow-up with a neurologist.
AHuntington's diseaseIt is a very rare genetic neurodegenerative disease. However, as it is hereditary, it can occur in several people in the same family.
The disease manifests through motor symptoms (related to body movements), psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive symptoms.
The current treatment of
Huntington's disease
The current treatment ofHuntington's diseaseconsists of symptom control.
In the treatment of chorea, there are drugs that deplete dopamine, such as Tetrabenazine and Deutetrabenazine, which are able to significantly reduce abnormal movements. However, both are still not sold in the country.
For the treatment of psychiatric disorders, which is often important, the treatment is carried out in a similar way to the patient who does not have HD, objectively treating the symptoms of depression, anxiety and behavioral changes. Thus, antidepressant, anxiolytic and antipsychotic drugs are often used.
It is very important to have a multidisciplinary approach with follow-up with:
Neurologist
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
speech therapy
Psychology
Nutritionist
Hope for Huntington
There are currently studies of gene therapy. These surveys aim to seek modify the gene that is altered. This should be the path to disease-modifying treatment and, possibly, disease cure.
Latest news in the treatment of
Huntington's disease
The drug studytominersen (formerly called Ionis-HTTRx/RG6042) from Roche, one of the first genetic treatments has unfortunately been discontinued.
The study included patients in the early stages of the disease and was divided "blindly" into two groups. There are no details yet as to why it was discontinued, but there are some other drugs with similar action that are being studied as well.
Updated on 08/12/2022
Treatment of Korea in Huntington's Disease
the medicineaustere® (deutetrabenazine), from the TEVA laboratory, was approved by ANVISA, for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease. This is the first medication for the symptom in Brazil. It is hoped that more and more new treatments will become available.
Austedo started to be sold in the country this year! It still has difficult access, due to the high cost, so the first patients who got it had to go to court. Associations such as Associação Brasil Huntington can be of great help in assisting in this process.
There is an understanding that austere® will also be useful for other chorea syndromes (other diseases that have the symptom of chorea.