Researchers have identified an essential protein, Pur-alpha, for motor neuron cells’ mechanisms of defense against external stress and degeneration and also as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). The research paper, “Pur-alpha regulates cytoplasmic stress granule dynamics and ameliorates…
A recent review summarized the effects of immune system dysregulation and neuroinflammation in the regulation of critical pathways associated with depression and other brain disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The researchers specifically focused on extracellular vesicles (EVs) as potential biomarkers and drug delivery vehicles. The review, “Neuroinflammation and Depression: Microglia Activation, Extracellular Microvesicles…
Cytokinetics Inc. has presented its Vision 2020: Empowering Our Future – an initiative designed to expand the company’s pipeline until 2020, as well as advance its muscle biology-directed drug candidates toward late-stage development and marketing strategies, to tackle the unmet medical needs of people living with impaired muscle…
Researchers at the National University of Singapore have suggested there is a fine balance between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-related protein TDP-43’s normal function and its potential to cause neurodegeneration. The degeneration seems to occur due to pathological factors that exaggerate the protein’s membrane association, resulting in the loss of its physiological functions as well as…
Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered that a set of messenger RNAs, controlled by the microRNA miR-218, define a specific network of neuronal genes that are repressed to prevent neuromuscular damage and neurodegeneration. Loss of miR-218 was seen to lead to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral…
The ALS Association has announced the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity is contributing to support the Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral Fellow Program by awarding $100,000 over two years to Antonia Dominguez, Ph.D., a researcher focused on finding treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral Fellowships were founded by the Safenowitz family…
Researchers at University Of North Carolina School Of Medicine are reporting the first evidence-based description of the neuronal protein clumps thought to be toxic to motor neurons and instigators of the neuronal degeneration seen in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The laboratory discovery of the form of these unstable clumps, known as SOD1 proteins, and…
ISIS Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Biogen, has started a Phase 1/2 clinical study of ISIS-SOD1Rx (BIIB067), one of the drug candidates to come out of the strategic partnership between the two companies, in adult patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ISIS-SOD1Rx’s mode of action relies on ISIS antisense technology that targets at…
ALS News Today has published daily coverage of ALS-related advocacy events, clinical trials, and research throughout the year. As 2015 finally winds down, ALS News Today has compiled the top 10 ALS news stories of 2015, ranked according to the number of views each news story received. #10 — “Mechanism Underlying…
MediciNova, Inc. announced its experimental therapy MN-166 (ibudilast) received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The announcement arrived just after MediciNova presented positive interim data from ibudilast‘s ongoing clinical trial to evaluate the drug’s efficacy and…
Get regular updates to your inbox.