News

Yumanity Therapeutics has recently licensed a prodrug invented at the University of Arizona (UA), adding it to the company’s expanding platform of potential therapies for neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurodegenerative diseases result from errors made during the building and folding processes of proteins within the cell. In 2009, UA…

Herantis Pharma announced that it has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) on its application for orphan drug designation for CDNF as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A positive opinion is the first step toward orphan drug designation which, in…

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)’s Independent Citizens Oversight Committee has approved a $6.3 million grant to fund a research team’s work into a new human embryonic stem cell-based therapy, involving astrocytes, to rescue and restore neurons damaged as a consequence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Team members, from the University of…

Aggregates of dipeptide repeat proteins produced by the mutant gene C9orf72 — the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — are toxic to neurons through interactions with a protein intended to clear cells of defective proteins, scientists reported. The findings provide a very specific focus for future drug…

Mutations in the C9orf72 gene are the most common genetic cause leading to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite this, researchers have not been able to determine what the normal function of the gene really is. Now, scientists from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles have revealed that the gene contributes to…

Eisai announced it has withdrawn its new drug application for an ultra-high dose Mecobalamin as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Japan, and is reviewing its next steps in consultation with Japanese regulatory officials. Mecobalamin is one of the co-enzyme forms of vitamin B12. As it is physiologically equivalent…

Scientists from Rutgers and Stanford universities have developed a potentially revolutionary technique to grow new neurons from adult stem cells and better ensure their survival during transplantation to the brain. The method, involving the use of 3-D scaffolds, may one day help to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Published in the…

When the New York State Department of Health‘s Medical Marijuana Program was launched on Jan. 7, 2016, Upper East Side physician Dr. Thomas O’Brien was the first doctor to secure a certification for a patient to be prescribed medical marijuana. He has since helped 200 patients to achieve…

The ALS Association has announced the five winners of its Translational Research Advancing Therapy for ALS (TREAT ALS) grant awards, advancing research projects into improved treatments and, eventually, a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. There are two types of grants — TREAT ALS Drug Development Contract and ALS Association-Initiated — which total more…

Six people will run for the UMass ALS Cellucci Fund in this year’s edition of the Boston Marathon, raising awareness and money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research underway at UMass Medical School (UMMS). For Chris Benyo, the Boston Marathon is like no other. When he crosses the starting line on April 18, Benyo will be…