A rare, fatal disease called spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG50) affects fewer than 100 people worldwide, causing developmental delays, muscle weakness, and eventual paralysis. An experimental gene therapy has shown promise in halting the progression of this devastating condition, but the clinical trial now faces critical funding shortages, leaving families scrambling for solutions.
Understanding SPG50 and the Current Treatment Landscape
SPG50 is a neurological disorder that impairs a child's development, leading to cognitive decline, muscle weakness, speech difficulties, and paralysis. Most individuals with SPG50 do not survive beyond their 20s. Currently, there is no FDA-approved treatment for SPG50; management typically involves physical, occupational, and speech therapy to alleviate symptoms.
Experimental Gene Therapy: A Glimmer of Hope
Driven by the diagnosis of his own son, Terry Pirovolakis initiated a clinical trial for an experimental gene therapy. The therapy involves injecting cerebral spinal fluid through a lumbar puncture to deliver a functional copy of the mutated gene. This approach aims to correct the underlying genetic defect and prevent further neurological decline.
Rebekah Lockard, whose two children, Naomi and Jack, both have SPG50, enrolled them in the clinical trial. Her son, Jack, received the gene therapy at just six months old. "Jack has thrived since then," Lockard reported. "He is sitting independently, banging toys together, drinking from a straw cup, and working really hard on crawling." Doctors and therapists share the sentiment that the treatment is working.
Other children participating in the trial have shown similar improvements, with disease progression halting and cognitive abilities improving, according to Lockard.
Funding Crisis Threatens Trial's Future
Despite the promising results, the clinical trial is now facing a severe funding shortage. Each dose of the gene therapy costs approximately $1 million to produce, with an additional $300,000 required for hospital treatment. Without substantial financial backing, the trial may be unable to continue, leaving children like Naomi without access to this potentially life-saving treatment.
"They have eight doses that were produced in Spain and have been flown to the U.S.," Lockard said. "It’s here, just literally sitting in a refrigerator, ready to go. Doctors are ready. There just isn't enough money to make it happen."
Pirovolakis, who liquidated his life savings to initiate the trial, has established a nonprofit, CureSPG50, to advance research and treatment for the disease. He is actively seeking grants and investors to sustain the trial and expand its reach.
Path to Approval and Future Directions
Pirovolakis plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial at the National Institute of Health (NIH), with the goal of treating eight children with SPG50. "If we can show that it works in all eight children — and we can prove to the FDA that it is making a difference — then the drug will get approved and every child can get it," he stated.
Following FDA approval, Pirovolakis hopes that SPG50 will be included in newborn screening programs, ensuring early diagnosis and treatment for all affected children. However, until then, families are left to navigate the financial challenges of accessing this experimental therapy.
