I must confess, whenever I’m in a crowded public place, I wear a face mask. Why? Because I’m a person living with ALS and doing everything I can to keep my immune system in tiptop shape. Plus, being the only person wearing a mask doesn’t bother me. In fact,…

We had another close call last week. I was out mowing the fields while a nursing assistant was caring for my husband, Todd. She was one of his first caregivers after he lost his ability to walk and bathe himself due to ALS. At the time, Todd still…

A cholesterol-related protein, called apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), can prevent the death of endothelial cells — those lining blood vessel walls — in a cell model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a recent lab study shows. According to researchers, these results “show promise for ApoA1 as a therapeutic agent to…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending by three months its review of tofersen, Biogen’s investigational treatment for forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by mutations in the SOD1 gene. Earlier this summer, the FDA granted the application priority review, with a decision expected no…

I’m writing this column on a tough and emotional day — the anniversary of the 2018 ALS diagnosis for my late husband, Jeff. For the day I might have planned, I’d be hiking up Old Rag Mountain in Virginia, perhaps sharing the pretty view on social media,…

Helixmith has unveiled its new multi-approach program called DART — Defeating ALS through Regenerative Therapeutics — to develop new therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Company CEO Sunyoung Kim presented the program in person and virtually at the 2022 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa, Oct. 11–13.

NurOwn, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics’ investigational cell-based therapy, leads to meaningful disease-related biomarker changes regardless of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) severity at the start of treatment, according to data from a Phase 3 trial. Specifically, the therapy increased neuroprotection biomarker levels and anti-inflammatory molecules, and reduced those of neurodegeneration…

I contend that most people diagnosed with physically debilitating illnesses later in life previously had a favorite activity that consumed much of their time. Cycling was that for me. My cycling life ended nine years ago, and even then, I reluctantly stopped because of my inability to unlock my…

Seelos Therapeutics is planning to launch an expanded access program (EAP) that gives people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who are not eligible for clinical trials the opportunity to access the company’s investigational therapy SLS-005. The program will be conducted in collaboration with the Sean M. Healey &…

On my daily walk, I take a detour from the field and into the woods because I’m on the hunt for birch bark and pine cones. It’s the season for collecting natural accents to use on my Christmas wreaths, which I’ll start making in a month. I sell them…