News

FDA Names Ibudilast an Orphan Drug as Possible ALS Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated  MediciNova’s Ibudilast (MN-166) an orphan drug as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Ibudilast is a first-in-class, orally bioavailable small molecule phosphodiesterase (PDE)-4 and -10 inhibitor and a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) inhibitor that suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines and promotes neurotrophic factors.

New Preclinical Data of Masitinib for ALS Presented at 4 Scientific Meetings This Year

AB Science has been invited to present new preclinical studies on masitinib in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at four international meetings this year. These were the main findings from the series of preclinical studies: Proof of concept data from the preclinical trials of masitinib showed that the investigational drug “targets…

ALS End-stage Brain Damage Isn’t Limited to Motor Neurons, Study Finds

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who have progressed to a stage in which they’ve lost all voluntary movements, including the ability to communicate, have damage in numerous brain regions and isn’t limited to motor neurons. The study, “Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis resulting in…

Researchers May Have Solved ALS Molecular Misfolding Mystery

Researchers have identified a factor that prevents SOD1 — a protein causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a proportion of patients — from misfolding. The finding may advance the development of new drug therapies to stop or slow progression of the disease. The study, “Endogenous macrophage migration inhibitory factor reduces the…