Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

WVE-004, Wave Life Sciences‘ experimental therapy for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with mutations in the C9ORF72 gene, has demonstrated proof-of-concept efficacy in cell and animal models, a new study shows. The nucleic acid-based therapy was able to “potently” reduce the toxic RNA molecules and small proteins…

Treatment with Coya Therapeutics‘ ALS001, a regulatory T-cell (Treg) therapy being developed for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was found to reduce markers of oxidative stress — a type of cell damage — and inflammation in a small early trial. The experimental Treg therapy was tested in a Phase 1…

“Clustering” people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on biological data could be useful for identifying those most likely to have slower or faster progressing disease, a new study shows. The findings were presented in a talk, “Fast Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathways and Biomarkers…

The experimental therapy WVE-004 appears to be engaging its intended target and reducing the amount of toxic proteins in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and/or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) caused by mutations in the C9orf72 gene, according to early data from the FOCUS-C9 clinical trial. The trial is currently recruiting adults,…

A CRISPR-based gene editing system could be used to reduce the activity of genes associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington’s disease, a new study shows. The study, “Targeted gene silencing in the nervous system with CRISPR-Cas13,” was published in Science Advances. CRISPR is a strategy that…

A novel system that involves electrodes implanted in the brain allowed a 34-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who had completely lost the ability to move voluntarily — known as a “locked-in” state — to communicate with his family again. Using the system, the man was able to…

Two independent teams of scientists have unraveled the molecular mechanism by which abnormal localization of the TDP-43 protein, which is characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), leads to reduced levels of another protein, called UNC13A, that is important for nerve cell function. The results also show that certain variations…

Treatment with the cell therapy NurOwn may slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for those with a specific variation in the UNC13A gene that is linked with a high risk of the disease. Merit Cudkowicz, MD, chief of neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, shared the…

Treatment with Clene Nanomedicine’s experimental medicine CNM-Au8 may decrease the risk of disease progression or death in people with early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to new analyses from the RESCUE-ALS clinical trial. Data also suggest that the therapy helped to prevent the loss of motor neurons in…

Exposure to certain toxic compounds — including beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), formaldehyde, and heavy metals like manganese, mercury, and zinc — increases the likelihood of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a review paper. Its authors argue that with BMAA — a toxic compound made by algae — enough evidence…