Andrea Lobo, PhD,  science writer—

Andrea Lobo holds a PhD in cell biology/neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, including stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She has authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

New interactive tool provides free access to real-world ALS data

The ALS Association has launched the ALS Focus Data Dashboard, a free interactive tool that gives researchers, clinicians, and the public access to five years of self-reported clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic data from more than 4,000 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers across the U.S.

Insitro, Bristol Myers extend research into new drug for ALS

Bristol Myers Squibb is extending a research collaboration with the artificial intelligence company Insitro to design new medicines against a novel target in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The target was identified during the previous five-year agreement between the companies, which aimed to discover new molecules that could…

Trial in Australia, Europe will test heart drug in ALS patients

A clinical trial in Australia and Europe will test whether trimetazidine, a medication commonly used to treat heart conditions, could help improve function and quality of life for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. The trial, led by University of Queensland researcher Shyuan Ngo, PhD, and her team at the…

FDA clears troculeucel for expanded access program

NKGen Biotech said it’s been cleared to launch an expanded access program (EAP) that will allow patients in the U.S. with neurodegenerative conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to access its experimental therapy troculeucel outside clinical trials. EAPs, or compassionate use programs, allow people with serious or life-threatening conditions…

Neurizon, Elanco sign deal to advance ALS therapy NUZ-001

Neurizon Therapeutics has entered into a global licensing deal with Elanco Animal Health to advance the development of NUZ-001, an investigational therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Monepantel, the active ingredient in NUZ-001, is an oral deworming agent commonly used in veterinary medicine, and Elanco, a company that…

Usnoflast well tolerated, shows signs of efficacy in ALS patients

An experimental oral treatment from Zydus Lifesciences was well tolerated at all tested doses and showed signs of slowing disease progression in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). That’s according to findings from a proof-of-concept Phase 2a trial (NCT05981040) in India that tested Zydus’ usnoflast in 24…

Zydus’ usnoflast wins FDA’s fast track drug status for treating ALS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track status to usnoflast, Zydus Lifesciences’ experimental oral inhibitor, for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The designation is meant to accelerate the development and review of new therapies that address unmet medical needs in serious or life-threatening conditions, and…

ALS Network collaborates on $300K drug-repurposing study

The ALS Network will support a collaborative research effort, at California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, that will use electronic health records (EHRs) to identify existing medications that could slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The $300,000 project is aimed at drug repurposing — finding medications already…

Neuronata-R improved function, survival in slow-progressing ALS

Neuronata-R (lenzumestrocel), an investigational stem cell therapy from Corestemchemon significantly improved function and reduced markers of nerve cell damage in a subgroup of people with slow-progressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the final results of a Phase 3 clinical trial show. The ALSummit trial (NCT04745299) failed to meet…