Margarida Maia, PhD, science writer —

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

Acorda, Chance enter agreement to sell Inbrija in China

Acorda Therapeutics has entered into an agreement with Chance Pharmaceuticals for Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder), a medication used to treat symptoms during off episodes in Parkinson’s disease, to become available in China. Parkinson’s is a growing problem in China due to the country’s aging population; by…

FDA needs additional information before approval of ABBV-951

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested more information about the specialized pump used to administer ABBV-951 (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa), an under-the-skin formulation of levodopa/carbidopa, before it will consider approving the therapy for motor fluctuations in people with advanced Parkinson’s disease. The agency’s complete response letter comes 10…

Early NfL blood levels differ in idiopathic and LRRK2 Parkinson’s

People with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease have significantly higher blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) — a biomarker of nerve cell damage — than those whose Parkinson’s is associated with mutations in the LRRK2 gene, a study showed. This difference, however, held true only for the early stages of disease,…

Toxic protein levels higher with REM sleep disorder than Parkinson’s

People with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a sleep disturbance that can precede Parkinson’s disease, have higher levels of toxic alpha-synuclein protein clumps in their stool than do Parkinson’s patients and healthy people, a study showed. Alpha-synuclein aggregates, toxic to cells, are thought to contribute to Parkinson’s and other…