April 10, 2022 is National Siblings Day, a day where we take the opportunity to celebrate and recognize the amazing siblings in our PWS community. One sibling in particular is going above and beyond to raise awareness and funds for our rare disease community. Joe Gill, 22, will be running in the upcoming Boston Marathon...
Category: Awareness
FDA Advocacy in Action Webinar Registration Now Available!
Advocacy in Action presents… Engaging with the FDA: Opportunities and Boundaries WHEN: April 27, 2022 at 3:00PM EST REGISTER HERE As our community continues down the ever-evolving road of drug trials to enhance the lives of those who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), PWSA | USA invites you to join us for a live webinar featuring two...
Lawmakers Review Several Legislative Proposals Intended to Accelerate Innovation of Therapies, Including STAT Act
On Thursday, March 17th, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing regarding The Future of Medicine: Legislation to Encourage Innovation and Improve Oversight. This hearing explored a number of legislative proposals intended to accelerate innovation of therapies, while ensuring appropriate levels of oversight, including H.R. 1730, the Speeding Therapy Access Today...
STAT Act to be Discussed in Congressional Hearing – Get in Touch with your Members of Congress!
URGENT CALL TO ACTION!! Due to the tremendous momentum created by Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill, The Speeding Therapy Access Today (STAT) Act will FINALLY be discussed in a Congressional hearing on Thursday, March 17th at 10:30AM EST! This is a MAJOR milestone across all rare disease communities' efforts to pass targeted and impactful...
April Webinar Series to Provide Health Care Advocacy Tools, Resources for PWS Community
In April 2022, PWSA | USA will host the "Find Your Voice: Advocating for PWS Health Care" webinar series to provide helpful tools and resources on health care advocacy for our PWS community. Because there are very few health care professionals in our communities who have knowledge of the unique health issues of infants, children,...
PWSA | USA CEO Paige Rivard Participating in Webinar Alongside U.S. Representatives Ahead of Rare Disease Day
As the nation gets ready for Rare Disease Day on February 28, 2022, PWSA | USA CEO Paige Rivard will participate in a national webinar hosted by Harmony Biosciences on Thursday, February 24th at 1pm EST to discuss COVID-19 and Rare Disease Patients. Paige will join U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), U.S. Representative Brad Wenstrup...
PWSA | USA’s Family Support Team Recaps January, February Community Conversations
January Community Conversation: Guardianship Lisa Thornton is not only a parent of a young woman with PWS, but she is an attorney with a lot of experience navigating guardianship and special needs trusts. If, when, and how to apply for guardianship is often a daunting process for parents. Coupled with every state having different processes,...
Apply to Attend PWSA | USA’s 1st Annual Volunteer Summit!
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, March 4, 2022 Our PWSA | USA Volunteer Summit is a unique opportunity to unite, support, and celebrate PWSA | USA volunteers who share a passion for supporting individuals and families within the PWS community. In addition to celebrating our volunteers, staff and special speakers will share new information, host small group...
Join us for the March Advocacy in Action Webinar with Speaker Maureen Tracey
When: March 9, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. EST Topic: Navigating and Advocating the Special Education Process for Students with PWS REGISTER IN ADVANCE HERE Advocacy In Action is happy to welcome one of our own as our guest presenter for the month of March: Maureen Tracey, Founder and CEO of Four Seasons Behavioral Solutions As...
Brain Tissue Donation: Honoring Loved One’s Through Hope
Autism BrainNet is a program of the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) that promotes innovative, high-quality research on postmortem brain tissue to improve the understanding of the biological causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental conditions. We work with Autism BrainNet to promote a greater knowledge of neurodevelopmental conditions and brain tissue research,...
Radius Health Shares Information about its Drug RAD011, Upcoming Study in New Fact Sheet
January 24, 2021 -- Radius Health, Inc. recently unveiled a detailed fact sheet about its drug RAD011, a synthetic cannabidiol oral solution, which is being studied as a possible treatment for hyperphagia and related behaviors in Prader-Willi syndrome. The fact sheet also gives a description of Radius Health's upcoming SCOUT-015 clinical trial. According to Radius...
Soleno Therapeutics Provides Update on DCCR
January 24 ,2022 -- PWSA| USA is sharing the most recent news released on the status of Soleno Therapeutics' drug DCCR (diazoxide choline) for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome. Soleno announced today that it has received the official minutes from a December 2021 meeting with the FDA's Division of Psychiatry. This meeting was a follow...
Join us for the February Advocacy in Action Webinar with Guest Speaker Guy Stephens
Advocacy In Action is excited to welcome our guest presenter for the month of February, Guy Stephens, Founder and Executive Director for the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (ASSR) Join us February 9, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. EST for our next Advocacy in Action webinar, as part of our continuous series to raise awareness and...
Saniona Launches TM006 Study Website to Advance Testing Efforts for Tesomet, a Drug to Help Individuals with PWS Feel Less Hungry
Following Saniona’s announcement that the company is initiating its Phase 2b clinical trial for Tesomet, which is being studied as a treatment for hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, the company has launched a website to help advance testing efforts for the drug. If you would like to participate in PWS research for Saniona’s TM006 study, this...
Shine a Light on Rare Disease Day!
Monday, February 28, 2022 is Rare Disease Day and we are asking YOU, our PWS community, to help shine a light on this important day! There are many ways we can come together even if we don’t do so physically. Being part of a global chain of lights in recognition of Rare Disease Day is...
In the Brain’s Cerebellum, a New Target for Suppressing Hunger
Peer-Reviewed Publication | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA A research team led by the University of Pennsylvania's J. Nicholas Betley has identified an entirely new way the brain signals fullness after eating. The findings offer a novel target for therapies that could dramatically curb overeating. People with Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder, have an insatiable appetite. They...
Join PWSA | USA’s Advocacy Committee!
The PWSA | USA Advocacy Committee is opening spots for NEW MEMBERS to join. The purpose of the PWSA | USA Advocacy Committee is to advise and educate the PWS Community on public policy issues related to PWS and the rare disease community. In addition, the committee is responsible for providing policy direction in the...
Join PWSA | USA, FPWR in Combined Community Conversation to Discuss FDA Advisory Committee’s Decision on LV-101 Carbetocin Nasal Spray
PWSA | USA and FPWR will host a combined Community Conversation on Tuesday, November 9th at 8:00 p.m. EST. PWSA | USA CEO Paige Rivard and FPWR Director of Research Programs Theresa Strong will discuss the outcome of the November 4th FDA Advisory Committee Meeting regarding LV-101 carbetocin nasal spray. This will serve as an...
How to Watch the FDA Advisory Committee Meeting
On Thursday, November 4, 2021 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold an Advisory Committee Meeting to discuss the new drug application (NDA) 214812, for carbetocin nasal spray, submitted by Levo Therapeutics, Inc., for the proposed treatment of hyperphagia, anxiety, and distress behaviors associated with Prader-Willi...
SIGNATURE EXTENSION: Encourage your Congressman to sign Rep. Gottheimer’s letter urging House leadership to oppose the harmful changes to the ODTC!
Update: Deadline for signatures EXTENDED to close of business Monday, October 25, 2021 Rep. Gottheimer of New Jersey has drafted and is gathering signatures for a letter to House leadership urging them to oppose the harmful changes to the Orphan Drug Tax Credit. Please consider taking action by clicking the button below. Thank you for...
World Osteoporosis Day
Read PWSA | USA Clinical Advisory Board's full Consensus Statement Here. Wednesday, October 20th is recognized as World Osteoporosis Day. Osteoporosis is a condition that commonly impacts individuals living with Prader-Willi syndrome, and is typically diagnosed in adolescence and adulthood. The cause(s) of the osteoporosis is not totally clear, but it is thought to be...
How Can You Make Sure You Are Heard by the FDA?
Would you like to be part of our community-wide effort to advocate for new treatments for PWS? The FDA is now accepting comments from the public regarding a new drug application currently under review for LV-101 (intranasal carbetocin), a potential treatment for PWS. Comments submitted by October 21, 2021, will be reviewed by the FDA...
Webinar Opportunity: Advocating for New Treatment for PWS
When: October 8, 2021 | 11:30 am EST Advocating for treatments for PWS has never been more important! Join this session co-hosted by PWSA | USA and FPWR to learn how you can make the greatest impact with the FDA. It is vital the FDA understand our community’s needs, preferences, and experiences. In this session,...
October is National Physical Therapy Month
October is nationally recognized as Physical Therapy Month. We want to thank the Physical Therapists who help our PWS community and provide care for our loved ones. PTs help address physical, mental, and behavioral challenges while working with those living with PWS. They help each PWS individual reach their greatest potential. Early on, physical therapists...