£14.5M awarded toward ALS, other neurodegenerative disease projects

A partnership between LifeArc and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is awarding £14.5 million (about $18.2 million) to seven research projects aimed at developing new tests, treatments, and devices for neurodegenerative diseases. “Our partnership with UK DRI allows us to identify and back the most promising translational…

Lead PAS-003 candidate chosen to target key protein in ALS

Pasithea Therapeutics has selected a lead candidate for its PAS-003 program, which is intended to target a “velcro-like” protein to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The new therapy is a humanized monoclonal antibody that potently inhibits the alpha-5/beta-1 integrin protein. It was selected after extensive screening and characterization studies…

ATH-1105 protects against common ALS, FTD disease mechanisms

Athira Pharma’s experimental therapy ATH-1105 shows anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, promoting neuron growth and reducing damage associated with mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a related condition. The small molecule reduced inflammation and the buildup of a faulty version of TDP-43, a protein that’s…

To families affected by ALS, Hope Loves Company offers hope, support

Jodi O’Donnell-Ames founded Hope Loves Company after losing her husband to ALS. (Courtesy of Jodi O’Donnell-Ames) This is Jodi O’Donnell-Ames’ story: The term amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was not a part of my vocabulary until May 1995. That’s when my husband, Kevin O’Donnell, was diagnosed with…

Pison’s AI-powered technology may help identify early ALS

A new technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) may one day help doctors diagnose people in the early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to data from a clinical trial. Developed by Pison, the technology was able to detect involuntary muscle twitches, or fasciculations, and changes in…

Collaboration to study PrimeC’s impacts on ALS disease mechanisms

NeuroSense Therapeutics has joined researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital to study the impact of its investigational therapy PrimeC on key amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) processes. The collaboration will the headed by Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili, director of the Neuroepigenetics laboratory at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease. Using a new…

Exploratory Phase 2 clinical trial of EPI-589 for ALS is ongoing

A small Phase 2 clinical trial is evaluating the safety and tolerability of investigational treatment candidate EPI-589 in adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The EPIC-ALS trial (jRCT2061210031), being conducted in Japan, will also assess exploratory effectiveness outcomes after six months of treatment. Data collection began in September…

ALS Success Story Delivers Man’s ‘Most Special Day’

The Lifestyle Healing Institute (LHI), which uses a complementary and alternative medicine approach to care, is touting the success of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient whose mobility and quality of life are said to have improved following treatment. The case of Tod, a 60-year-old patient, demonstrates that…