Minn. family sues for access to muscular dystrophy drug

by Fred Frommer, Associated Press

Washington D.C. — (AP) - A Minnesota family has filed a lawsuit seeking to force a drug company to let their son have access to an experimental drug for a terminal form of muscular dystrophy.

Jacob Gunvalson, 16, from Gonvick, Minn., has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He's been excluded from clinical trials for the drug by PTC Therapeutics of South Plainfield, New Jersey.

He and his parents sued in federal court in New Jersey on Wednesday, alleging that the company had told them earlier that the he would get access to the drug.

Seven years ago, Gunvalson's mother, Cheri Gunvalson, helped persuade Congress to significantly boost spending to find a cure for the disease.

Now, the family says it's unbelievable their son won't benefit from those efforts.

PTC Therapeutics had no immediate comment on the lawsuit Thursday.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)