Health Canada has issued a notice of noncompliance-withdrawal saying it won’t approve the oral therapy masitinib as an add-on treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Its developer, AB Science, can submit a request for reconsideration within the next month, which it plans to do, it announced in…

After a great deal of introspection, I decided for this month’s column to reflect on my life as it stands now. I wanted to write about it without being too ominous and dreadful, but I don’t think that’s possible. My love for music prompted the headline, because within the…

Last Friday night, I pulled a prescription bottle out of the cupboard, preparing to take my daily antidepressant — just one half-pill of the smallest dose, but that’s been enough to take the edge off and help me cope with the ongoing grief of living with my husband’s…

An experimental gene therapy called CTx1000, which is designed to reduce toxic buildups of the protein TDP-43 in nerve cells, was found to significantly extend survival and improve motor function in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the related disorder frontotemporal dementia, known as FTD. According to…

Mutations in the C9ORF72 gene may lead to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the related disorder frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in part by boosting the production of a powerful inflammatory protein called interleukin 17A (IL-17A), recent preclinical research suggests. Inhibiting IL-17A via genetic manipulations or…

Reduced activity of the TDP-43 protein, a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), leads to changes in the DNA of nerve cells, which alters the activity of important genes, a new study reports. These findings may help explain how problems with this protein can contribute to the death of…

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee again has delayed issuing an opinion on whether to grant conditional approval to masitinib, a potential add-on oral therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). AB Science, the therapy’s developer, now expects a recommendation in the second quarter of this year. The…

An early-stage clinical trial evaluating CK0803, Cellenkos‘ regulatory T-cell-based therapy for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has completed dosing its first patient group, the company announced in a press release. The six patients, all adults, were treated at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, in New…

Dewpoint Therapeutics has received a grant from the Target ALS Foundation to advance the development of small molecules called c-mods, which will target the TDP-43 condensates thought to drive most cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Condensates are borderless compartments in cells that can cause cellular processes…

Living with ALS for the past 14 years has taught me an important lesson on adapting to a new way of life. Before ALS, my life was filled with carefree movement. I spoke with ease and enjoyed endless physical energy. Now, even though my…