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A two-year project aims to identify reliable blood tests for measuring neurofilament protein levels, which could aid in the early detection of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and possibly other rare neurodegenerative disorders. Neurofilament, a protein component of neurons, is released when these nerve cells are…

The Phase 2/3 clinical trial testing UCB’s investigational therapy zilucoplan for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — one of the arms of the multi-regimen HEALEY ALS platform trial — has been stopped early based on interim data. The decision was made after a pre-specified analysis “demonstrated futility,” UCB said…

Horizon Therapeutics has launched its #RAREis Representation program aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion among patients with rare diseases. There are about 400 million people worldwide living with a rare disease; for many of them, access to diagnosis, care, and treatments can be challenging. Accessing better care depends on…

Minnesota lawmaker Dave Lislegard has introduced two measures in the state’s legislature that would invest tens of millions of dollars in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research and caregiver support. The first bill, HF 3603, would appropriate $20 million to the University of Minnesota for competitive research grants to…

Note: This story was updated April 4, 2022, to clarify that 700 participants, including both ALS patients and healthy volunteers, have been recruited to the study. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTHA) has joined EverythingALS’s consortium to accelerate the development of new digital biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral…

Bionews, the publisher of this website, hosted a virtual panel discussion on Rare Disease Day 2022, taking a deeper dive into what it’s like to live with a rare disease, including conversations about advocacy, mental health, survivor’s guilt, treatment of minority patients, and more. The Monday event, “A…

Dosing has begun in a Phase 2/3 trial of SLS-005, Seelos Therapeutics’ infusion therapy to slow progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that is running as the fifth arm of the multi-regimen HEALEY ALS platform trial. The trial (NCT05136885) plans to…

A company called ProJenX has been launched and will focus on the clinical development of treatments for brain diseases, starting with prosetin, its lead candidate therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ProJenX was created in collaboration with Project ALS, researchers at Columbia University, and Medical Excellence Capital, which…

A rare disease puts an economic burden on the patients, families, and caregivers that it affects, and will no doubt be an integral part of discussions on Rare Disease Day 2022, which brings international awareness about the more than 300 million people living with rare disorders. Part of that…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has agreed to review a marketing authorization application (MAA) from Amylyx Pharmaceuticals requesting the approval of AMX0035 — a combination of two compounds — for the treatment of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The validation comes nearly two months after Amylyx filed the…