News

Intranasal formulation helps edaravone reach brain: Early study

An into-the-nose (intranasal) formulation of edaravone — the active ingredient in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) medication Radicava — may enhance the medication’s ability to reach brain tissue, according to a recent study. The formulation, which was made by packaging edaravone into tiny carriers called nanoparticles, was found…

Researcher awarded $10K to advance work on ALS therapy

A professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School was awarded $10,000 by Mass General Brigham (MGB) for her work to restore the levels of stathmin-2, a protein that is disrupted in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a related neurodegenerative condition, as a possible…

New Brunswick adds Albrioza for ALS to its public health plan

New Brunswick is reimbursing, through its public health insurance program, the cost of Albrioza (sodium phenylbutyrate and ursodoxicoltaurine) for eligible residents living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Canadian province is the country’s fourth to provide public coverage for the oral therapy — marketed in the U.S.

Asthma medicine slows ALS disease progression in small trial

Six months of treatment with clenbuterol, an asthma medication, slowed disease progression in adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to data from a small U.S.-based Phase 2 clinical trial. Despite these promising preliminary findings, more than half the participants withdrew from the study due to side effects. “Nonetheless,…

ATH-1105 protects against common ALS, FTD disease mechanisms

Athira Pharma’s experimental therapy ATH-1105 shows anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, promoting neuron growth and reducing damage associated with mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a related condition. The small molecule reduced inflammation and the buildup of a faulty version of TDP-43, a protein that’s…

New platform may help to ID cognitive problems in ALS

A new home-based neurocognitive platform from Cumulus Neurosciences is feasible to use and patient-friendly, and shows potential to identify cognitive problems and to discriminate between people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), those with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and healthy individuals. That’s according to preliminary data from a first-in-class study,…