News

Mutations in the TDP-43 gene might not be causing the disease changes seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on their own, but might need additional environmental or genetic factors to trigger disease. This was the conclusion of scientists at the Oregon Health & Science University who studied mutant forms…

A moderate to severe traumatic brain injury puts a person at high risk of developing dementia, although not Parkinson’s or ALS, a study in Finland suggests. In contrast, a mild brain injury appears to have no connection with the development of dementia, the researchers said. The study, which involved brain injuries…

Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals has entered an exclusive three-year agreement with Saol Therapeutics to promote Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), a therapy indicated for injection in adults with spasticity and in children with lower limb spasticity – common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Under the agreement, Saol will set up a…

Worldwide Clinical Trials was selected as the Clinical Research Organization (CRO) to run a Phase 3 study of the investigational stem-cell therapy NurOwn for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, which developed NurOwn, expects the collaboration will provide all of the necessary requirements to pursue the placebo-controlled,…

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MT Pharma America) has enrolled more than 700 sites of care in its newly created National Infusion Center Directory to help physicians identify local infusion centers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients who are prescribed Radicava (edaravone).

Researchers have slowed the progression of an ALS-like disease in mice, and prolonged their lives, by reducing the activity of a protein receptor that helps transmit signals between nerve cells. The study, which involved the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5, or mGluR5, was published in the journal Neuropharmacology. The article was titled “…

Radicava (edaravone), the first approved treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 22 years, is being welcomed with “a great deal of excitement” in the ALS community, an ALS Association executive said. The excitement stems both from Radicava’s potential to treat the disease and the hope that its approval will lead…

Below is a transcript of the ALS News Today interview with Calaneet Balas, executive vice president of strategy for the ALS Association. The nonprofit association, established in 1985, is active in promoting research into ALS, providing assistance to patients through its network of 39 state chapters, and in coordinating care though its…

Edaravone — now more widely known by its U.S. brand name, Radicava — has produced “a minor miracle” for some amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, said Stephen Byer, co-director of ALS Worldwide. “We have found and continue to find great benefit in terms of slowing, stopping and, in some…

University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania researchers used a cutting-edge technique called cryo-electron microscopy to see how the Hsp104 yeast enzyme breaks up clumps of the misfolded proteins that are hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. The resolution that the technique provided was so high that it was close to the level…