Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

More than half of the people with rare diseases and their caregivers, asked in a survey, were undecided or less than willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if a vaccine was approved under emergency use authorization instead of the routine process, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Disease reports. These findings…

The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and Toyota (GB), the U.K. division of Toyota, have established a partnership to raise funds and improve awareness for the needs of people with disorders that include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The staff at Toyota (GB) selected MND Association as the company’s…

The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is accepting applications for a scholarship program that aims to help adults with a rare disease pursue personal goals through training and education. For a second year, the #RAREis Scholarship Fund — supported by Horizon Therapeutics – will award 35 one-time scholarships, each…

Actimed Therapeutics is developing S-oxprenolol to prevent muscle wasting and body mass loss due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using proceeds from a recent license agreement with Faraday Pharmaceuticals. Under the agreement, Faraday acquired global rights to develop and commercialize S-oxprenolol for muscle-affecting disorders other than ALS, particularly…

The ALS Association is now accepting applications for the Jane Calmes ALS Scholarship Fund, aimed at supporting U.S. students whose lives are affected financially as well as personally by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Going on its third year, the fund helps to cover costs for young people wanting…

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals is planning to file an application by the end of this year requesting that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approve AMX0035 as an oral treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This follows a recent announcement that a similar application will be submitted to Health…

The first patient has been enrolled in a Phase 2a clinical trial investigating Helixmith’s gene therapy Engensis (VM202) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the company announced. The REViVALS-1A study (NCT04632225) intends to recruit 18 patients across four clinical sites in the U.S. Enrollment is open…

Editor’s note: The ALS News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 MDA Virtual Clinical and Scientific Conference, March 15–18. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. Variants in the WWOX gene may contribute to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)…

Canadian authorities have approved Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of chronic sialorrhea, or excessive drooling, associated with neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The decision makes Xeomin the first and only neurotoxin for chronic sialorrhea licensed for this indication in Canada. The therapy was…

A first patient has been dosed in the Phase 2 trial investigating pegcetacoplan (APL-2), Apellis Pharmaceuticals‘ candidate therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the company and the Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) announced. The potentially pivotal trial, called MERIDIAN (NCT04579666), is currently enrolling patients…