Expert warns against ‘using Duchenne patients to fuel protests’

A Georgian analyst has criticised what he described as the use of people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to intensify ongoing anti-government protests, calling such actions “unacceptable”.

Writing on social media, Davit Chikhelidze said treatment and prevention efforts for the condition must follow international practice and high safety standards, arguing that patients must not be treated as “test subjects”.

He said the state’s primary responsibility was to protect its population and safeguard public health, adding that authorities should not introduce or fund medications whose safety has not been sufficiently established.

Chikhelidze also stressed that there was currently no complete cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, describing this as “the reality”. He said some existing treatments globally carried significant limitations and side effects, and in certain cases may lead to serious complications.

While acknowledging the concerns and distress of parents, he argued that decisions about treatment effectiveness should be based on evidence rather than expectations or hope. He also raised the question of responsibility in the event of adverse outcomes linked to state-funded medication.

The analyst added that research is ongoing worldwide, with scientists and pharmaceutical companies working to develop safer and more effective therapies, expressing hope that improved treatment options may emerge in the future.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare genetic condition, typically affecting around three in 100,000 people, and is characterised by progressive muscle degeneration. According to Chikhelidze, despite available treatments, the disease continues to progress over time, a point he said is supported by scientific evidence.