Reldesemtiv Earns FDA’s Orphan Drug Designation for ALS Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to Cytokinetics and Astellas Pharma‘s reldesemtiv for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the companies announced. Reldesemtiv, a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator designed to improve muscle function with minimal nerve…

Upon the death of someone with ALS, a common theme is often invoked. Words such as heroic or courageous may be chosen to characterize the deceased. The disease’s course is invariably described as a battle or fight. The implication is that ALS is a brutal and unscrupulous enemy.

Updated results from the CENTAUR Phase 2 trial show that Amylyx‘s investigational oral treatment, AMX0035, significantly slowed progression in treated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with rapidly advancing disease compared to those given a placebo. The trial reached its primary goal shortly after its final patient examination in September. Data show…

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA) and Soleo Health have entered into an agreement that will facilitate Soleo sharing real-world data about the use of MTPA’s Radicava (edaravone) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Radicava was approved for the treatment of ALS by the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has agreed to expand Tiglutik, a liquid oral form of riluzole, to include giving it via a feeding tube to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ITF Pharma, the company marketing Tiglutik, announced. The approval of administering the therapy via percutaneous endoscopic…

MediciNova‘s experimental therapeutic ibudilast (MN-166) may be most effective for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in people with a shorter history of the disease, namely those diagnosed less than 18 months before receiving the treatment, a new analysis shows. The analysis was presented at the…

If my husband, Todd, did not have ALS, there would still be someone else with ALS. And there’s cancer. Childhood illness. Tragic accidents. But winter has arrived on the Keweenaw Peninsula, and I’m compelled to get out and delight in God’s creation. Would He have made nature so beautiful…

Researchers with Orion Corporation presented new data on levosimendan‘s mechanism of action, and potential biomarkers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression. The data were recently presented in four posters at the 30th International Symposium on ALS/MND, held Dec. 4–6, in Perth, Australia. Levosimendan, a small molecule that acts…

A new ALS Association partnership with the ALS Investment Fund II seeks to raise $100 million in new funding to advance amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) therapy development. This second venture fund follows one that originated in the Netherlands and raised $25 million in 2.5 years to support…

Whether I’m at a social gathering or in the middle of a lighthearted chat in the grocery store, there’s no doubt about it — people can say the darndest things! This is particularly true when they’re stymied over what to say to me about my ALS. Don’t get me wrong.