Natural substances that restore intestinal-bacteria balance may help in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study funded by the international Ice Bucket Challenge. Noting that changes in intestinal bacteria contribute to ALS, researchers said using probiotics could restore the balance. The research, “Target Intestinal Microbiota…
A Phase 2 clinical trial, exploring ozanezumab as a treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, failed to show any benefits. The data at hand means the search for treatments that may outperform the only approved ALS medication, riluzole, continues. The study, “Safety and efficacy of ozanezumab in patients with…
ALS patients with complete paralysis can communicate in a limited manner using a computer interface that detects their thoughts based on blood oxygen levels in the brain, according to a new study. Researchers said the method helped these patients say they were happy despite their extreme condition. The study, “Brain-Computer…
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics has validated the cryopreservation process for its NurOwn stem cells to be used in an upcoming Phase 3 clinical trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the validation study researchers compared NurOwn (MSC-NTF cells) derived from fresh mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to those derived from…
Feeding mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) the bacterial product butyrate improved their gut health, delayed the onset of movement symptoms, and increased the animals’ life span, according to a study. The study reporting the findings, “Target Intestinal Microbiota to Alleviate Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral…
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have intact eye muscle movement, even at more advanced stages of the disease, according to new research. However, the reason remains unknown. Researchers say that discovering how this happens may help in the design of novel treatments to fight the loss of muscle activity in…
The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) drug Rilutek (riluzole) prevents neuronal cell death in part by acting on mitochondria, suggesting that treatment approaches that target the way mitochondria signal within cells may be a viable approach to treating ALS. The study, “Riluzole But Not Melatonin Ameliorates Acute Motor…
Flex Pharma said it plans to prioritize developing its clinical programs in neurological diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and peripheral neuropathies like Charcot-Marie Tooth (CMT). One or two proof-of-concept, Phase 2 clinical trials are planned for this year in the United States to evaluate the company’s transient receptor…
Preventing the TDP-43 protein from entering mitochondria may be a treatment option for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a new report. But while blocking the abnormal process is possible in mice, the compound used is not suitable for humans. To overcome this, researchers are using multiple approaches in their…
Surgery to insert a feeding tube directly into the stomach of late-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients can be made safer by adapting procedures now in place for high-risk patients, identified with the help of a tool for stratifying patients according to risk. The study, ”A risk stratifying tool to…
