This podcast and accompanying promotional content has been created in collaboration with and funded by Biogen. This information is intended for healthcare professionals.
Omaveloxalone▼ is indicated for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia in adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older. Prescribing information can be found here.
Adverse event reporting can be found at the bottom of this page.
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a rare genetic disease that can affect children and adults and cause progressive neurodegeneration, loss of physical function, multiple comorbidities, and even premature death.
In this episode, two well renowned experts, Louise Corben and Wolfgang Nachbauer discuss the diagnostic journey for patients with FA, disease progression, and the importance of working with multidisciplinary teams in the development of management strategies.
Speakers:
Louise Corben
Associate Professor Louise Corben is a Research Fellow and Team Leader in the Genetic Health Research (Bruce Lefroy Centre) group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. For over two decades she has coordinated the clinical care of individuals with Friedreich ataxia in tandem with coordinating the Friedreich ataxia clinical research program at the MCRI. Associate Professor Corben has led the production of Clinical Management Guidelines for Friedreich ataxia on two occasions, in 2014 and again in 2022. She is a member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the Friedreich Ataxia Global Clinical Consortium, co-investigator in the UNIFAI natural history study, investigator on the TRACK-FA international bioimaging project, working group member of the Ataxia Global Initiative and contributes to working groups and activities facilitated by the Friedreich Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). Associate Professor Corben has a specific interest in outcome measures in Friedreich ataxia and is one of the inventors of the Ataxia Instrumented Measure system.
Wolfgang Nachbauer
Specialising in Movement Disorders, Wolfgang Nachbauer is a Neurologist/Physician at the Center for Rare Movement Disorders Innsbruck, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, with clinical and academic experience of over 15 years in the field. His top areas of expertise are genetic movement disorders with special emphasis on hereditary ataxias. He holds a PhD in the topic of Friedreich Ataxia, and has acted as investigator of several clinical studies (Phase II and III). Nachbauer is a member of the European Friedreich’s Ataxia Consortium for Translational Studies (EFACTS, now UNIFAI).
▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Adverse events should be reported. For Ireland, reporting forms and information can be found at www.hpra.ie. For the UK, reporting forms and information can be found at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or via the Yellow Card app available from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Adverse events should also be reported to Biogen Idec on 1800 812 719 in Ireland and 0800 008 7401 in the UK. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via their national reporting system. |
References:
1. Corben LA et al. Clinical management guidelines for Friedreich ataxia: best practice in rare diseases. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2022;17(1):415.
2. Corben LA et al. Consensus clinical management guidelines for Friedreich ataxia. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2014;9(1):184.
Biogen-268777
Date of prep: August 2025