Tofersen Early Access Program Now Open to SOD1-ALS Patients

Grabbing Bits of Beauty to Rejuvenate

“I am so sick of being sick,” Todd said. He’s having trouble kicking this bug that he’s been fighting for two weeks. His lungs keep filling with mucus, and I keep clearing them out. Just when we think he’s on the road to recovery because he has a long stretch…

Orphan Drug Status Recommended for Pridopidine in Europe

A branch of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended that Prilenia’s investigational therapy pridopidine be designated an orphan medicine to treat people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Medicines with the potential to become safe and effective treatments for rare, life-threatening, or chronically debilitating conditions affecting no more than one…

United We Stand, Divided I Fall

“It wasn’t me she was foolin’, ‘Cause she knew what was she was doin’, When she told me how to walk this way.” Run-DMC’s hip hop adaptation of the Aerosmith classic “Walk This Way” conjures up images of every therapy session I’ve had during the ALS portion of my…

Exservan, Riluzole Oral Film for ALS, Now Available in US

Exservan, the first oral film formulation of riluzole for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has been launched in the United States, its developer, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA), has announced. Rapidly dissolved when placed on top of the tongue, Exservan — specifically developed to help meet the needs…

Will This ‘New Normal’ Ever Feel Normal Again?

The other day while watching TV, I heard the newscaster announce, “We’re in the ‘new normal’ folks, and everybody wants to get out and travel again!” “Well, I don’t,” I thought, and just as quickly wondered, “Am I the only one who doesn’t feel comfortable yet to go out…

Childhood Form of ALS Identified, Linked to SPLTC1 Mutations

A previously unknown form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — one with onset during childhood — is caused by mutations that alter the production of certain lipids (fat molecules), scientists report. “We found that a genetic form of the disease can also threaten children. Our results show for the first…