PharmaTher has filed an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting that ketamine be designated an orphan drug as a potential treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Orphan drug status is granted by the FDA to encourage the development of therapies for conditions that affect fewer…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted orphan drug designation to Seelos Therapeutics‘ investigational therapy SLS-005 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the company announced in a press release. Orphan drug status in Europe is given to medicines with the potential to be safe and…

AB Science will suspend recruitment and treatment in all studies involving masitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor being investigated for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and several other conditions. The voluntary suspension follows the identification of a potential risk of ischemic heart disease — a condition of recurring chest…

Today, the National ALS Registry is joining the Major League Baseball to celebrate Lou Gehrig’s life and legacy and to raise greater awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This year’s inaugural “Lou Gehrig Day” on June 2 honors the famous New York Yankees baseball player whose career…

People living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) recently shared their views on the importance of new therapies and incremental gains, and the risks they are willing to take with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and industry officials in a virtual meeting hosted by The ALS Association. The…

Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) have received an award from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity to advance their preclinical research of an innovative CRISPR-based gene editing approach to treat one of the most common causes of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The two-year…

With a heightened emphasis on clinical trials, improved care, and identification of risk factors, the ALS Association has created a plan intended to make amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) “livable” by 2030. While it continues to search for an ALS cure, the nation’s largest ALS nonprofit organization believes that, within a…

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have begun preclinical studies of macimorelin, Aeterna Zentaris’ approved oral diagnostic, as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The preclinical development program, led by Frederik Steyn, PhD, is part of a recent agreement between university researchers and…

To further support amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients through research and clinical studies, the Canadian province of British Columbia is giving CA$2 million (about $1.65 million) to the ALS Society of BC  to support a collaboration called Project Hope. In partnership with the University of British…

The U.K. research organization LifeArc will match £500,000 (about $704,000) of the money raised by the director of the Leeds Rhinos’ rugby club in a series of marathons he ran to support research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other motor neuron diseases. The match for this part…