Marta Figueiredo, PhD, managing science editor —

Marta holds a biology degree, a master’s in evolutionary and developmental biology, and a PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. She was awarded a research scholarship and a PhD scholarship, and her research focused on the role of several signaling pathways in thymus and parathyroid glands embryonic development. She also previously worked as an assistant professor of an annual one-week embryology course at the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine.

Articles by Marta Figueiredo

New Israeli Production Site for NurOwn Certified for Quality

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics announced that a new cleanroom facility for manufacturing NurOwn, its experimental cell-based therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has received good manufacturing practice (GMP) certification from the Israel Ministry of Health. GMPs are standards set to ensure that batches of a medicine are produced with consistent high…

Sperogenix Acquires Rights in China to Develop ABSK021

A subsidiary of Sperogenix Therapeutics has acquired exclusive rights to develop and commercialize ABSK021, an investigational oral therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other rare neurological diseases in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao. Under the terms of the agreement between Sperogenix MedTech and Abbisko Therapeutics, the therapy’s…

Exservan, Riluzole Oral Film for ALS, Now Available in US

Exservan, the first oral film formulation of riluzole for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has been launched in the United States, its developer, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA), has announced. Rapidly dissolved when placed on top of the tongue, Exservan — specifically developed to help meet the needs…

ALS Association Wants More Commitment From the FDA

In a response letter to The ALS Association, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the unmet therapeutic need of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and reaffirmed its commitment to the 2019 ALS clinical trial guidance. However, the agency did not provide any details about how it…

New Cellular Model Used to Study FUS Gene Mutations

Mutations in the FUS gene, a common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), impair the regeneration and growth of motor neuron extensions toward muscle cells, according to a study using a new miniaturized human model of neuron-muscle interactions. These deficits, along with the reduced number of nerve-motor connections, were lessened by blocking…

Amylyx Seeks Approval in Canada of Lead Candidate AMX0035

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals is seeking approval, in Canada, of its lead candidate AMX0035 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This regulatory submission “represents a significant milestone in our efforts to develop a new treatment option for people living with ALS who have no time to wait,” Joshua Cohen, co-founder, co-CEO,…