FDA Approves Radicava, First New ALS Therapy in 22 Years

FDA Approves Radicava, First New ALS Therapy in 22 Years

The first treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in more than two decades, Radicava (edaravone), has been approved by the  U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will soon be available to patients. The May 5 FDA decision, hailed by physicians and ALS advocates, brings hope to the ALS community that treatment development, after a…

What Is Motor Neuron Disease?

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a condition where nerve cells (motor neurons) in the brain and spinal cord stop working, damaging the nervous system and leading to muscle wastage. It’s also referred to as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MORE: 16 fast facts about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. According to the…

College Students Help ALS Patient Tell His Wife He Loves Her

College students from the Oklahoma Christian University are helping an ALS sufferer communicate with his wife again. Sixty-four-year-old Carl Phelps from Oklahoma was diagnosed with bulbar onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in April 2015. The disease’s first symptoms appear in the mouth and many patients experience problems talking, eating and…

Pfizer, AbbVie Investing $10 Million in Aquinnah’s Neurodegenerative Disease Therapy Approach

Pfizer and AbbVie are pumping $10 million into Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals‘ effort to develop a revolutionary approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases — one that could arrest, or even reverse, the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s and other conditions. Takeda Pharmaceuticals invested $5 million in Aquinnah’s program in December 2015.

May is ALS Awareness Month

May is ALS Awareness Month and the ALS community is seeking the help of individuals willing to participate, advocate and donate to advance the fight toward a world free of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” The ALS Association is a national non-profit organization dedicated to building…

Biohaven Advances Regulatory Efforts for BHV-0223, a Sublingual Form of ALS Therapy Rilutek

Biohaven Pharmaceuticals is pushing hard for regulatory approval and development of its two investigational drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): BHV-0223, a sublingual form of Rilutek (riluzole), and BHV-4157, a compound that modulates the neurotransmitter glutamate. After more than 20 years, Rilutek remains the only approved treatment for people with…

16 Fast Facts About ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that causes the degeneration of motor neurons, eventually leading to a loss of movement and patients being unable to breathe without assistance. We’ve put together a list of fast facts about ALS with help from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and…