A growth factor called FGF4 can reduce the activity of astrocytes — star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord that become overly reactive in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — but it doesn’t stop motor neurons from dying, a study in cells and mice found. The researchers also observed…

Differences in tear metabolites — the products of metabolism that are found in human tears — in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were able to distinguish bulbar-onset disease, in which symptoms initially affect the face and throat, from spinal-onset ALS, where the first symptoms usually are weakness in…

Researchers detected changes in the production of several immune signaling proteins, called cytokines, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord — of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at diagnosis. These changes also correlated with certain clinical characteristics, and how quickly the…

Modality.AI is teaming up with Target ALS on a clinical study of artificial intelligence (AI) as way to assess changes in speech and motor function in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The trial will harness a virtual, conversational AI system, called Tina, intended to detect even…

Neurosense Therapeutics announced that it has received a U.S. patent covering the formulation of PrimeC, its lead investigational therapy for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that combines two approved medications in a fixed dose. The patent, “Compositions comprising Ciprofloxacin and Celecoxib,” was issued by…

ProJenX has teamed up with Unlearn, a company that specializes in artificial intelligence (AI), to create virtual twins of patients as a way of more quickly collecting data in a Phase 1 clinical trial of prosetin, its oral treatment candidate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

A $22 million federal grant to the Mayo Clinic in Florida will fund a study providing access to the investigational therapy ibudilast (MN-166) for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) across the U.S. The award, by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), will support a…

The Swiss biotechnology company Mabylon has received two research grants from Target ALS and the ALS Association to support the development of human-derived antibodies that may help restore normal TDP-43 function in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In nearly all ALS patients, nerve cells produce…

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has awarded a $500,000 research grant to a Massachusetts General Hospital scientist to support the HEALEY ALS platform trial — a pioneering trial that’s seeking to find treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a faster timeframe. The three-year clinical research grant was…

Blood levels of eight small molecules called microRNAs can accurately distinguish people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from healthy people or those with other neurodegenerative diseases, a study shows. Its developers believe this so-called “ALS fingerprint,” which has now been validated in multiple groups of people and in different…