News

A compound that stabilizes a protein crucial for the survival of motor neurons helped cells of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients survive longer in experiments performed in lab dishes. The discovery builds on research about a childhood neuromuscular disease — spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) — and may lead to new treatments…

Insights into the behavior of TDP-43 — a key protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) development — may offer clues in preventing protein aggregation, potentially leading to new treatments for the disease. And the new level of understanding of how the protein is controlled and what it does in the cell…

In recognition of May as ALS Awareness Month, the nonprofit Project ALS is inviting those interested in joining the Don’t Talk-a-Thon, which runs through May 21 to raise awareness for the disease and funds for research. The annual fundraising event will culminate with a one-hour vow of silence on May 21…

Mutations in the FUS gene, which are the major cause of juvenile forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are linked to the loss of motor neurons. European researchers have now found that these mutations also affect other cell types in the brain. The French-German study, “Motor neuron intrinsic and extrinsic…

The nonprofit HealthWell Foundation has just launched a pioneering fund to assist patients living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The fund will provide up to $15,000 in co-payment or premium assistance to eligible Medicare patients who have annual household incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty…

Suppressing the expression of a protein called ataxin-2 may prolong survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a recent mouse study. The study, “Therapeutic Reduction Of Ataxin-2 Extends Lifespan And Reduces Pathology In TDP-43 Mice,” was published in the journal Nature. According to researchers, nearly…

Two brothers will travel across the U.S. to raise money for Project ALS to support a project testing a promising drug in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mike Devlin, a 27-year-old ultramarathon runner, will begin his 100-day run in San Francisco on April 15. Mike will run 3,000 miles across America, and…

Israel’s BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics has announced positive top-line Phase 2 data on NurOwn, a customized stem-cell therapy technology to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BrainStorm has been developing and commercializing NurOwn in partnership with Ramot, the business engagement unit of Tel Aviv University. NurOwn enables the production of growth factors that…

A novel gene-silencing therapy intended for patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is being tested as a treatment for dogs with degenerative myelopathy, a paralytic disease similar to ALS. The study is currently underway at Tufts University. “Giving these pets another one-and-a-half to two years of life would be a major…

Preclinical testing will soon begin in VY-SOD101, a compound seen as a potential treatment for a certain gene mutation found in people with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  Its developer,  Voyager Therapeutics, hopes to follow this work, if successful, with clinical trials in patients  in about two years. Patients with ALS typically develop weakness…