The new treatment is based on the theory that excess integrin compensates for the lack of dystrophin.

BBC: Lab work

Duchenne patients have more of the integrin, but fail to produce another protein, dystrophin, which is also required for healthy muscles.

BBC: Lab work

But mice genetically engineered to produce more integrin did not suffer severe muscular problems, maintained good movement, and lived to an age of 38 weeks.

BBC: Lab work