Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

BIIB080 shows Alzheimer’s-related tau protein reduction in study

Treatment with the experimental therapy BIIB080 led to long-term reductions in the levels of disease-associated tau protein in the brains of people with early Alzheimer’s disease. That’s according to new data from a Phase 1b trial (NCT03186989) presented by Biogen at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…

FDA poised to decide on traditional approval of Leqembi in July

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review a request to convert Leqembi’s (lecanemab) accelerated approval to a traditional approval for treating Alzheimer’s disease. The FDA has granted priority review to the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) and the agency is expected to make a…

Lecanemab Slows Dementia of Early Alzheimer’s in Phase 3 Trial

Treatment with lecanemab (BAN2401), an experimental amyloid-targeting antibody, significantly slowed the progression of dementia symptoms among people with early Alzheimer’s disease in the Phase 3 Clarity AD clinical trial, Biogen and Eisai announced. Both companies, the therapy’s developers, plan to discuss these results with regulatory authorities in the U.S.,…

Cancer Medication Improves Cognition in Alzheimer’s Mouse Model

Trametinib, an oral medication approved to treat certain cancers, improved cognition and neuronal health in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study. Data suggest the treatment helped to clear toxic protein aggregates from nerve cells. The study, “MEK1/2 inhibition rescues neurodegeneration by TFEB-mediated activation…

FDA to Decide on Lecanemab’s Approval in January 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review an application from Eisai seeking accelerated approval of lecanemab (BAN2401), an investigational amyloid-targeting antibody to treat early Alzheimer’s disease in people with confirmed amyloid plaques in the brain. Eisai finished the rolling application a few months ago.

Tau-targeting Treatment Slows Cognitive, Functional Declines: Trial

Alzheimer’s patients given the experimental tau-targeting therapy HMTM in a Phase 3 clinical trial experienced a substantially slower decline in cognitive and functional measures than would be expected based on published research, according to new findings announced by HMTM’s developer TauRx Pharmaceuticals. TauRx expects these results will…