On May 5, the FDA approved the first new treatment in 22 years for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The drug, Radicava (edaravone), has been found to slow down the decline of physical ability in ALS patients by a third. Find out more about the FDA approval of Radicava here.  MORE:…

Currently, there isn’t a treatment available to cure or reverse amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but there are treatments available that can help improve quality of life for those living with the disease. According to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, these include: Medications for symptoms Medications can be used to address some…

Flex Pharma is launching the Phase 2 COMMEND trial, which will investigate the effects of FLX-787 in patients with muscle cramps associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The preliminary results of the trial are expected to be released in mid-2018. The COMMEND trial (NCT03196375) will start with an assessment…

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics has signed an agreement with the University of California Irvine Medical Center (UCI) to start enrolling patients for an upcoming Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating whether NurOwn can improve functional impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. NurOwn is made of mesenchymal stem cells…

Actor, director and playwright, Sam Shepard, has died following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The star passed away at his Kentucky home on Thursday, July 27, surrounded by his family following a lengthy and private battle with the disease. MORE: Explaining amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) As a Hollywood…

Cytokinetics recently announced the start of a Phase 2 clinical trial investigating a new therapy candidate (CK-2127107) for the potential treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Phase 2 FORTITUDE-ALS (NCT03160898) study will soon be…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted fast track status to FLX-787, Flex Pharma‘s treatment for severe muscle cramps in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Flex designed FLX-787 to interfere with transient receptor potential ion channels that are believed to play a role in nervous system pain and inflammation.

Scientists have known for some time that abnormal DNA repetitions in the C9orf72 gene contribute to neuron death in ALS and frontotemporal dementia. Now they have learned how it happens: The anomalies leave DNA susceptible to damage, prompting a cell repair mechanism to become over-active. That hyperactivity cause neuron deaths.

In this video from LA Fitness, 51-year-old surfing fanatic Chris Mehess shares his ALS story. Chris first experienced problems in April 2015 when he began having difficulties staying upright on his surfboard and regularly suffered from cramping in his ankles and calves. A few months later, he…

Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics has received a $16 million grant from a state agency known as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to develop a Phase 3 clinical trial of its ALS stem-cell therapy NurOwn. NurOwn is based on mesenchymal stem cells, which can transform themselves into various types of cells. Brainstorm…