- People with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) have significant genetic differences in their DNA, according to a preprint shared this week from the DecodeME study. Researchers have stated it is the world’s largest ME study, analyzing 15,579 DNA samples from people with the disease. Overall, they found eight genetic signals in the immune and nervous systems. “We found no evidence that the eight ME/CFS genetic signals share common causal genetic variants with depression or anxiety,” the authors wrote. “Our findings suggest that both immunological and neurological processes are involved in the genetic risk of ME/CFS.” Read more about the study in The Times.
- A very small clinical trial of the infusion drug BC 007 published in eClinicalMedicine found “significant improvement” in fatigue in people with Long COVID. In the study, first shared as a preprint in December 2024, researchers found that the drug was safe and helped with symptoms, according to different patient-reported outcomes. The trial offers “support for further clinical studies in a larger patient group with a long-term follow-up,” the researchers wrote. One participant in the trial shared some critiques of the paper, however, noting that the reported symptom improvements were small and suggesting the researchers may have overstated the potential impact of their findings. Read more about the trial and BC 007 in our recent reporting.
- A phase 2 clinical trial testing the monoclonal antibody sipavibart is recruiting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The trial plans to enroll 100 participants who will receive one infusion of the drug, or a placebo, and follow them for six months. After the six months of follow-up, participants in the placebo arm may be eligible to receive the drug. Contact: Nancy Klimas, nklimas@nova.edu
