Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Size matters when it comes to SOD1 protein aggregates found in the brains of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to researchers. They found that large SOD1 aggregates may help protect motor neurons from dying, while short SOD1 aggregates promote the death of motor nerve cells. Their findings support…

Investigational therapy NP001 failed to improve disease severity and pulmonary function in a Phase 2 confirmatory trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with elevated levels of systemic inflammation, Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals announced. The findings, showing the trial failed to meet its primary and secondary goals, were recently shared during the…

A diet that includes foods rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid — an essential plant-derived fatty acid found in flaxseed, canola, and other oils — is linked to a lower risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers report. But their work also found that diets rich in arachidonic…

H.P. Acthar Gel, an experimental injectable therapy, may help delay progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new analysis reveals. The data is scheduled to be presented at the 70th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Los Angeles, April 21–27, in a presentation titled, “Post…

Researchers suggest that patients in the early stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may benefit from a personalized program of home-based exercises without a physical therapist’s supervision. The small Japanese study, “Effectiveness of home-based exercises without supervision by physical therapists for patients with early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A…

NMD Pharma has obtained $47 million in financing from new investors to continue developing treatments for ALS and other neuromuscular disorders. The Danish company is focusing on small-molecule inhibitors of a muscle-related chloride ion channel. It has created a screening platform to identify potential inhibitors of the ClC-1 ion channel.

The Israeli biotechnology company Kadimastem is planning a Phase 1/2a clinical trial of a cell therapy for ALS after regulators gave it the go-ahead. Kadimastem’s therapy, AstroRx, consists of cells called astrocytes that are injected into cerebrospinal fluid. The star-shaped cells, which surround nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, are derived…

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show higher rates of sleep apnea that is often accompanied by nocturnal hypoventilation, according to a retrospective study. Researchers also found that a method called transcutaneous capnography is able to reliably detect nocturnal hypoventilation, or insufficient breathing, in ALS patients. The…

Difficulty sharing vast amounts of information — the so-called big data — can slow the pace of scientific advancement, experts say. A University of Washington team has come up with a way to help neuroscience researchers share huge swaths of MRI information about ALS and similar disorders. The information deals…

Researchers have identified genes that promote amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using the gene-editing technology CRISPR-Cas9. The findings represent not only another piece of information to understand the molecular mechanisms triggering ALS, but also support the newly identified genes as potential targets for future therapeutics. The study “CRISPR–Cas9 screens in human cells…