News

Biopharmaceutical company Neuralstem presented new and potentially promising results from its clinical investigations of NSI-566 — human spinal cord-derived neural stem cells for the treatment of conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — at the recent Phacilitate Cell & Gene Therapy World conference in Washington, D.C. Karl Johe, the company’s chairman and chief scientific officer, reported that two clinical trials…

A report from the Boston University School of Public Health shows that Gulf War Illness is a result of exposure to pesticides and other toxins used in the Gulf War. The report also notes that in addition to Gulf War Illness, deployed Gulf War veterans suffer higher rates of stroke, brain cancer and…

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that nine researchers are the winners of the 2015 ALS Research Program (ALSRP), which aims to improve treatment and find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by funding preclinical research into the disease. The winners were announced in a press release by the ALS…

Entrepreneur Kevin Gosnell announced the launch of ALS ONE – a partner organization of the ALS Association and ALS Finding a Cure that aims to bring world-leading experts in neurology and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) care together to realize an ambitious goal: finding a new ALS treatment within four years.

Researchers at the Institute for EthnoMedicine and the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank have discovered that chronic exposure to an environmental toxin has the potential to increase the risk for neurodegenerative illnesses such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. The research paper, “Dietary exposure to an environmental toxin triggers neurofibrillary tangles and…

University of Kyoto researchers discovered that a protein associated with a gene involved in cancer suppression, the VHL protein, and a protein that rescues cells from hypoxia (low oxygen) conditions, cullin2, are both involved in ALS progression. This discovery can lead to the identification of therapeutic targets for ALS treatment. The…

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, a company developing a innovative therapeutic for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), recently announced that former Biogen CEO Walter Gilbert, Ph.D and Nobel Laureate, will join Amylyx’s board of directors. “Dr. Gilbert brings an enormous breadth of experience as a scientist, biotech founder,…

Researchers have identified an essential protein, Pur-alpha, for motor neuron cells’ mechanisms of defense against external stress and degeneration and also as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). The research paper, “Pur-alpha regulates cytoplasmic stress granule dynamics and ameliorates…

A recent review summarized the effects of immune system dysregulation and neuroinflammation in the regulation of critical pathways associated with depression and other brain disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The researchers specifically focused on extracellular vesicles (EVs) as potential biomarkers and drug delivery vehicles. The review, “Neuroinflammation and Depression: Microglia Activation, Extracellular Microvesicles…

Cytokinetics Inc. has presented its Vision 2020: Empowering Our Future – an initiative designed to expand the company’s pipeline until 2020, as well as advance its muscle biology-directed drug candidates toward late-stage development and marketing strategies, to tackle the unmet medical needs of people living with impaired muscle…