Diogo Pinto,  —

Swiss biopharma GeNeuro has secured the exclusive worldwide license to the clinical development program for a pHERV-K Env antibody after preclinical results showed its potential to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company exercised its option for the rights to the investigational therapy under the terms of a January 2017…

Chip technology — much like an organ-on-a-chip that can simulate the workings of tissue or organs  — was used to recreate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), allowing researchers to identify two treatments for blood cancers — rapamycin plus bosutinib — as a possible ALS combination therapy. The study, “Microphysiological 3D model…

Human spinal cord neural stem cells (NSC), created using an innovative method, were seen to regenerate functional neurons in the damaged tissue of rats with spinal injuries, according to researchers. Their study, “Generation and post-injury integration of human spinal cord neural stem cells,” was published in the journal…

The microRNA-218 (miR-218), produced at excessive levels by damaged or dying nerve cells, may be a therapeutic target for  amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an animal study suggests. This molecule was found to disrupt the normal function of astrocytes, star-shaped glial cells found throughout the central nervous system (brain…

MediciNova has completed enrollment for its Phase 1/2 clinical trial testing the investigational therapy MN-166 (ibudilast) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. The trial (NCT02714036) has enrolled 35 ALS patients who will be treated with 100 mg daily doses (50 mg twice a day) of MN-166. The…

AB Science has decided not to seek the re-examination it initially requested after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a negative opinion on marketing authorization for masitinib, the company’s investigational amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) therapy. The company announced in a press release that the re-examination procedure…

Transplanting human spinal cord-derived neural stem cells (HSSC) into the spine of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was found to improve their survival and function, according to clinical trial investigators. Results from the Phase 1/2 trials were compared to historical populations (controls), and the results were reported in the…

Genetic mutations in two previously unrecognized genes, the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and BNIP1 genes, are associated with elevated risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study with that finding “Selective genetic overlap between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and diseases of the frontotemporal dementia spectrum,” was published in the…

Higher levels of a specialized type of immune cell may help halt the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study in humans and mice found. These findings were reported in the journal JAMA Neurology, in the study, “Association of Regulatory T-Cell Expansion With Progression of Amyotrophic…