Translational progress in the development of pharmacotherapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Despite the discovery, nearly 40 years ago, that mutations in the dystrophin gene were responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a cure for this devastating disease remains elusive. Considerable effort worldwide is focused on understanding DMD and devising treatments, including gene-, cell-, and pharmacologic-based therapies. More than 400 clinical trials for DMD and/or the related Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) have been registered with clinicaltrials.gov, with many in various stages of completion, and more than 40 having been terminated or withdrawn. The failure of interventions in clinical trials represents a significant emotional burden for the entire DMD community. While some gene-based therapies are being approved, these can be expensive, and currently tend to target specific mutations. Several cell-based therapies and tissue engineering strategies are also currently in development. Of the many pharmacotherapies to address aspects of the pathophysiology of DMD, like preserving muscle fibers, enhancing regeneration, and increasing strength, glucocorticoids remain the most efficacious for attenuating the disease progression. Successful pharmacotherapies may enable patients to take advantage of perfected gene therapies when they eventually become available. Here, we explore the therapeutic merit of different pharmacotherapies currently under consideration and provide an update on recent advances in gene therapies for DMD.