Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy or OPMD is a rare progressive muscle-wasting disease caused by a mutation in a gene called PABPN1 (poly(A)-binding protein nuclear 1), for which there is currently no effective drug therapy. The disease is characterized by swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), limb weakness, and eyelid drooping (ptosis). Dysphagia worsens over time and can lead to chronic choking, regurgitation, aspiration pneumonia, and in severe cases, death.
The company we are profiling today is Australia-based Benitec Biopharma Inc. (BNTC), which is developing a treatment for OPMD.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.