Dr. Christopher Grunseich, Lasker Clinical Research Scholar at the National Institutes of Health and lead investigator for AnnJi’s AJ201 therapeutic candidate, was recently interviewed by Quest Media, a trusted Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)-supported source for neuromuscular disease news.
In the interview, Dr. Grunseich provides an overview of Kennedy's Disease (KD), also known as Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), explaining its genetic cause, diagnosis, clinical presentation, and the urgent need for treatments that can slow disease progression.
KD is a progressive, X-linked neuromuscular condition that primarily affects males and leads to muscle weakness, sensory symptoms, and bulbar involvement affecting speech and swallowing. Currently, there are no approved therapies that slow or modify the progression of the disease, and care remains focused on symptom management through multidisciplinary support.
Dr. Grunseich also discusses the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for AJ201, designed to target the underlying disease mechanisms, including toxicity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Early results are encouraging and shows potential improvements in muscle function and reductions in creatine kinase (CK) levels. Based on these outcomes, a Phase 3 clinical study is planned for 2026. Two other drugs in phase 2 trials, NIDO-361 and clenbuterol, are also encouraging.
Read the news release on AnnJi's website: Dr. Christopher Grunseich Featured in Quest Media Interview on SBMA and AJ201
Read the press release on Quest Media: Understanding Spinal-Bulbar Muscular Atrophy
