ALS Texas

ALS Drug Shows Further Promise, Slowing Progression and Increasing Survivability

by Leave a Comment

Muscle and Nerve has published the results of the open label extension study of AMX0035, a promising new drug therapy for people with ALS developed by Amylyx. The study showed that people who received the drug lived about 6.5 months longer than people who received the placebo during the trial. This finding is in addition to the findings from the phase 2 trial, showing that people with ALS receiving this drug experienced a significantly slower decline in disease progression, compared to those on a placebo.

As quoted in the New York Times article, Neil Thakur, chief mission officer of the ALS Association, states, “That is a very meaningful benefit for people affected by this devastating, fatal disease.”

These findings further show that the treatment should be made available to people with ALS as soon as possible. We urge the FDA and Amylyx to work together to bring this treatment to market as soon as possible and we stand ready to help ensure that happens. You can help by signing our petition to the FDA and Amylyx at als.org/petition.

ALS Drug Slows Progression, Petition for FDA Approval

by 3 Comments

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has published the results of a phase 2 trial (known as CENTAUR) of the compound AMX0035, produced by Amylyx, a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company. The results of the trial were very promising – people with ALS receiving this drug experienced a significantly slower decline in disease progression, compared to those on a placebo. Additionally, this drug shows to be safe and well-tolerated indicating a positive benefit and risk consideration for people with ALS.

The ALS Association and I AM ALS have now issued a petition calling on the drug company and the FDA to make the treatment widely available as soon as possible. The ALS Association and I AM ALS are asking that Amylyx and the FDA move with urgency to ensure this drug is a treatment option for all people living with ALS.

Click to expand

The ALS Association committed $750,000 to Amylyx in funding for this research, and $1.4M to the NEALS clinical trial consortium to support the trial. These grants were made possible through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The trial included 137 people with ALS and was conducted across 25 top medical centers through the Northeast ALS (NEALS) consortium. All of the participants enrolled in the trial were diagnosed with sporadic or familial ALS within the previous eight months and had a rapid progression of the disease.

With a typical survival time of between 2 to 5 years, people with ALS cannot wait for the full experimental process of this drug to continue. In light of the substantive data of AMX0035’s effectiveness and safety, it has been requested that the FDA and Amylyx to work together to bring this to people with ALS as soon as possible by approving the drug prior to a Phase 3 trial. To access and sign the petition, visit www.als.org/petition.

Sign the Petition Today!

ALS Association Awards $1 Million to Fund Potential ALS Treatment

by 2 Comments

Today marks a monumental day for ALS research as the first in-human clinical trials of AT-1501 have begun. AT-1501 is an antibody therapeutic developed by the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), with support from The ALS Association, ALS ONE, and ALS Finding a Cure®. The drug blocks immune cell activation and protects nerves against the progression of ALS. As of today researchers at Anelixis Therapeutics, lead by Dr. Steve Perrin, have successfully administered a dose of AT-1501 to the study’s first participant.

This is a great progressive step on our journey for a cure, and we’re happy to announce that the ALS Association awarded an additional $1 million to Anelixis to help fund this groundbreaking research.

“We are proud to partner with Anelixis and other ALS organizations to help advance this promising compound into clinical trials,” said Calaneet Balas, President and CEO of The ALS Association.

The safety trial of this potentially new treatment is currently enrolling volunteers, both those with ALS and those without, to participate in the study. In total, eight people with ALS will receive AT-1501 and will be monitored for safety , tolerability, and how the drug moves through the body. If it’s proven safe the trial will then move on to Phase II.

We’re excited for the prospect of this new treatment and we remain hopeful that together with patients, caretakers, donors, and researchers we can create a world without ALS.

Help us create a world without ALS by donating today.

A Letter from the Board President: Multidisciplinary Clinic Access Expands in Texas

by 1 Comment

When my father was diagnosed with ALS in November 2011, he and my mother began attending an ALS multidisciplinary clinic. He had been sick for three to four years and had seen doctor after doctor trying to get a diagnosis.  When he started attending clinic, the ease of a one-stop place for patients to see all the disciplines necessary to treat ALS gave my parents both relief and empowerment.

Aside from the relief of constant travel to numerous doctor’s appointments, multidisciplinary clinics help provide a better quality of life for a patient and caregiver.  From bonding with another patient or caregiver in the lobby over a shared experience to the ability to learn about new developments in treatments and research, the benefits are endless.

[Read more…]

Dodgeball Tournament Raises Over $55,000 in Three Years to Support ALS Research

by 1 Comment

ALS dodgeball tournament hosts

Three days before Christmas 2009, Turner Corbett’s family got the devastating news that his mom, Jennifer, had been diagnosed with ALS. Turner was just 12 years old.

Wanting to make the most of a difficult situation, in 2015, Turner created a benefit event that would raise money for ALS research. After running through some ideas with his friend Alex Doswell, they decided a dodgeball tournament would be the most fun and family friendly.

[Read more…]

Frequently Asked Questions about Radicava™ (Edaravone)

by 21 Comments

Based on information as of 5/5/2017

What is Radicava?

Radicava™ (edaravone) is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).1

In clinical trials, some people given Radicava showed significantly less decline in physical function compared to placebo as measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), a validated rating instrument for monitoring the progression of disability in patients with ALS.1,2

[Read more…]

FDA Approves New ALS Drug

by 3 Comments

Radicava is First Approved Treatment for ALS in Decades

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announced today that it has approved Radicava (edaravone), the first new treatment approved specifically for ALS in 22 years. The FDA approved Radicava less than a year after Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation submitted a New Drug Application. The only other approved treatment specifically for ALS, riluzole, was approved in 1995.

“We thank the FDA and MT Pharma for working together to expedite the approval of the first new ALS-specific treatment in decades,” said Barbara Newhouse, president and CEO of The ALS Association. “We hope today’s announcement signals the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against this terrible disease. There are several drugs to treat ALS currently in clinical trials and we are hopeful that people living with ALS have even more therapies available to them sooner rather than later.”

[Read more…]

New Research Brings Help, Hope to People with ALS

by Leave a Comment

ALS is a devastating disease with no cure.

But researchers are working to change that. The increased awareness and donations provided by events like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge—and by people like you—are making a real difference in the pace of discoveries, bringing us ever closer to the end of ALS.

Here are just a few examples of recent advancements in ALS research and technology:

[Read more…]

ALS Texas: 2016 By the Numbers

by Leave a Comment

At ALS Texas, we’re dedicated to serving people with ALS in any way we can. That includes running clinics, hosting support groups, providing grants, loaning equipment, funding research, educating people about ALS, and much more.

It’s only through the support of people like you that we’re able to do all this, and we want to thank you for helping make the past year a success. In 2016, ALS Texas provided more services to more people—about 25% more, compared to 2015. Here’s a look at the numbers that help show what we were able to accomplish:

[Read more…]

How Your Donations Impact Local ALS Research

by Leave a Comment

The ALS Association funds the world’s largest ALS research program, working with more than 150 labs around the globe. The ALS Association supports a wide breadth of specific fields of study that are critical to advancing ALS research.

A significant portion of the research funded by the ALS Association is done through the vast network of clinical research and clinical trials. The ALS Association funds a nation-wide network of Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, which must meet the ALS Association’s clinical care and treatment standards based on the American Academy of Neurology Practice Parameters. In order to achieve this certification, the clinic must participate in ALS-related research and successfully complete a comprehensive site review.

[Read more…]