Health Canada has conditionally approved Qalsody (tofersen) for the treatment of adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with mutations in the SOD1 gene. Qalsody, designed to lower levels of the toxic protein that drives the disease for these patients, is the first treatment to directly target the…

Measuring blood levels of neurofilament light chain, or NfL, a biomarker of nerve damage, may help in diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and in predicting the risk of death among people with the neurodegenerative condition, a new study shows. This biomarker showed substantially better accuracy for both ALS diagnosis…

Fat molecules called polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs, can help lessen nerve damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study of fruit flies and cell models. Previous studies have shown that consumption of omega-3 fatty acid, a type of PUFA, is associated with a lower risk…

Clene is collaborating with APST Research to further explore how CNM-Au8 affects levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients being treated in expanded access programs (EAPs). The joint effort is intended to support the accelerated approval of CNM-Au8 for ALS, which Clene intends…

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has rolled out its St. Patrick’s Day fundraising campaign, MDA Shamrocks — the largest such campaign in the U.S. marking this day — to raise money for research, patient care, and advocacy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other rare neuromuscular…

The ALS Association’s Walk to Defeat ALS fundraising event this year is marking 25 years of bringing together people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their families to offer support and raise funds for advancing research and improving care for those living with the disease. With a total…

The ALS Association has launched a free resource to help people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their families navigate health insurance denials and appeals — with the tool’s goal to help patients get coverage for critical care. Dubbed the ALS Insurance Navigator, the tool delivers detailed…

Four experimental treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been tested in the HEALEY ALS platform trial and two, CNM-Au8 and pridopidine, have shown promising results and are moving toward Phase 3 testing. The others, zilucoplan and verdiperstat, failed to show any benefit and are no…

Sleep problems may become evident in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) several years before the characteristic motor symptoms of the disease develop, a new study shows. The study suggests alterations in a brain region called the hypothalamus, which are seen in early disease stages and sometimes even…

Voyager Therapeutics will reassess its gene therapy program for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with mutations in the SOD1 gene after its original candidate, VY9323, was found to have toxic effects in nonhuman primate studies. The company believes the problem lies with the therapy’s payload and not the viral carrier…