A local news story on the FDA approval of Spinraza, the first treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, features Max. Here are a few quotes:

• [SMA] attacks motor neurons, so things like coughing and holding your head up, Max Lasko can't do. ... But, the Laskos like to focus on what Max can do, like play music, communicate through an emphasis on syllables or movement of the eyes, and bring joy to people.
  
  
• The FDA approved Spinraza months before the go-ahead was expected, but for the Laskos, who provide Max with round-the-clock care, this is a long-awaited moment. "When we got the news, I looked at my wife and saw tears rolling down her cheeks,” said Jonathan Lasko, Montgomery County resident. “...it will take time to see how it helps and to what degree it helps him and many others, but we're hopeful, we're very hopeful."

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Max is the face of SMA research at Towson! We are very pleased to have participated with Towson University's SMA Tiger Research Team in 2016 and are looking forward to new breakthroughs in 2017!

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