Younger cycad seeds can contain more toxins than older seeds, and their widespread consumption by people on occupied Guam during World War II could be the environmental origin of the rare sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cluster found there, according to a recent study. Guam residents emerged from their wartime…

Amylyx’s experimental oral treatment AMX0035 safely and effectively slows functional decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with rapidly progressing disease, according to full data from the CENTAUR Phase 2/3 trial. Only changes in upper limb strength were significantly different from those seen in placebo-treated patients, the data show. Meanwhile,…

The Phase 3 clinical trial testing an oral suspension formulation of edaravone for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has resumed dosing and patient recruitment, its developer, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA), announced. The trial (NCT04165824) was launched in November, but was paused in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study,…

The European Commission has granted orphan drug designation to ILB, Tikomed‘s investigational treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the EU, this designation is based on a positive opinion issued by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), a part of the European…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Prosetin orphan drug designation for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Orphan drug designation grants financial incentives to companies developing medications for rare diseases, which might not be profitable enough to pursue without government assistance. While a Phase…

Pharnext’s investigational oral combination therapy PXT864 prevents degeneration of motor neurons and their point of contact with muscle cells, as well as the buildup of toxic TDP-43 protein aggregates — all hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — in cellular models of the disease. The data…

Accessing and understanding insurance coverage, and paying for medical treatments and services top the list of stressors that burden people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the United States, a survey of patients and caregivers reports. Ten percent of its 444 respondents — in 1 in every 10 —…

Two U.K. organizations, the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and Nick Smith Foundation, are partnering on a pilot project to help youngsters affected by motor neurone disease (MND) create memories of their family member or friend. The initiative is being tested in four cities in England: Milton Keynes, Manchester,…

The nonprofit group I AM ALS has opened a global resource to help keep amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and their caregivers fully aware of clinical research underway. Called ALS Signal: Clinical Research Dashboard and created by patients, caregivers, and advocates, the dashboard offers a user-friendly way to learn about…

The ALS Association has awarded $470,000 in scholarships to 94 students in the U.S. whose lives have been financially affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Each scholarship recipient receives $5,000 annually through the organization’s Jane Calmes ALS Scholarship Fund to help cover education costs. Awardees for the…