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…

The benefits of riluzole, an approved treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is thought to partly lie in its antioxidant effects. A new study now reports that this activity can be enhanced by combining it with agents like Radicava that provide protection via different pathways. The study, “…

Daily use of levosimendan capsules appear to preserve respiratory strength in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) while in a supine, or lying flat, position, a sub-analysis of the Phase 2 LEVALS trial reports. Treatment did not show significant benefit against placebo when patients were sitting up, its primary…

Assessing the degree of atrophy, or shinkage, in facial nerves with a high-resolution imaging tool appears to provide an accurate and early diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to new research. The study, “Facial nerve atrophy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Evaluation with fast…

Inhibition of a protein called Cdk5 in the brain increases lifespan and improves motor function in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study reports. This evidence supports a potential role for Cdk5 in the progression of ALS and opens new avenues as a potential therapeutic target for…