The two most common measures used in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) assessments — the ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) and forced vital capacity (FVC) — can predict survival more accurately when used together, according to a recent study. Alone, these measures had a similar predictive ability, but the weak…

A Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating the safety and pharmacological profile of DNL343, Denali Therapeutics’ investigational oral therapy, in adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has started dosing participants. The study (NCT05006352) is currently recruiting patients at the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) in Leiden, Netherlands.

Note: This story was updated Sept. 21, 2021, to note that 18% of patients, not 80%, experienced increases in the MUNIX(4) sum score at some point during the study. The last patient visit has been completed in Clene’s Phase 2 trial investigating the potential of CNM-Au8 — which…

A first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 clinical trial testing Alector’s investigational antibody AL001 as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with C9orf72 mutations. The trial is expected to enroll an estimated 45 ALS patients, who will be randomly assigned to AL001 or a placebo,…

A technology based on artificial intelligence is helping to spot biomarkers and document the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a large speech study being conducted by EverythingALS. The technology, developed by Modality.ai, is a web-based computer program that uses audio (speech) and video (facial) recordings…

ProMIS Neurosciences is advancing the development of antibodies against toxic TDP-43 protein clumps for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the company announced. Through lab and animal tests, ProMIS said in a press release, the company plans to validate its current antibodies, which include extracellular antibodies delivered…

Health Canada has agreed to review Amylyx Pharmaceuticals‘ application seeking approval of AMX0035 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). “We are pleased that our submission has been accepted for review by Health Canada, and we are committed to serving those affected by ALS in the…

A $10-million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will help fund the first U.S.-based clinical trial of Synchron’s Stentrode, a wireless brain device, implanted without open brain surgery, that transmits signals from the brain directly to a computer. The COMMAND trial will evaluate whether the device…

Bringing artificial intelligence (AI) to the development of small molecule therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological diseases is the goal of a business partnership in Asia. The newly signed agreement is between Insilico Medicine, an AI-driven drug discovery company based in Hong Kong, and 4B Technologies of Suzhou,…

Dropping the levels of microRNA-218 (miR-218) — a small molecule that regulates the activity of other genes — below a certain threshold leads to severe motor neuron damage, paralysis, and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study shows. The findings, combined with the fact that…