Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting. In some cases, breathing difficulties are among the first symptoms of ALS, as the chest muscles and diaphragm that control breathing become affected by the disease. In other patients, breathing difficulties may only…
The release of fragmented or dysfunctional mitochondria — a cell’s powerhouse — by immune and structural cells inside the central nervous system is a critical step that triggers neuron death and the progression of human neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study shows.
What is ALS? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the nerves that control muscle movement. Patients are generally diagnosed between ages 55–75. Symptoms can range from mild to very severe and may progress at different rates for different…
After gathering input from patients, researchers, and advocates, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released new guidance on the development of therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Among its recommendations, it is advising more communication with companies early on in the product development process, access to…
A detailed analysis of the communication network between nerve and muscle cells in turtles has shed new light on how movement is controlled and maintained. These findings on how motor nerve cells communicate may help scientists better understand the underlying mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or spinal injury.
The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center at Mass General has chosen five “promising” candidate treatments from among 30 applications to test in its first platform trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The platform trial — a type of a clinical study that tests the efficacy of multiple…
A toxin produced by algae may contribute to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by lowering the stability of a protein in the brain, a new study suggests. Titled “β-Methylamino-L-alanine substitution of serine in SOD1 suggests a direct role in ALS etiology,” the study was…
Fight Motor Neuron Disease (FightMND) has awarded Clene Nanomedicine‘s Australian subsidiary $1.37 million AUD (approximately $924,000) to advance clinical studies of a new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) candidate treatment. These funds will support a Phase 2 clinical trial, named RESCUE-ALS, that will assess the efficacy and safety…
Daiichi Sankyo is looking to market the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment Radicava (edaravone) in Brazil after reaching a licensing agreement with the therapy’s maker, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma. The company will submit a regulatory application through its local subsidiary, and expects to commercialize Radicava in the…
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to three companies that sell cannabis-based products containing cannabidiol (CBD), cautioning them that making unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of CBD could lead to legal action. The agency “urges the companies to review all claims made for…
