Biotechnology company Biogen Idec today announced disappointing results from its phase 3 trial of dexpramipexole, an experimental drug the company has been developing to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The 23rd International Symposium on ALS/MND (motor neuron disease), held in Chicago Dec. 5-7, 2012, brought together more than 900 researchers, clinicians and other health care professionals from 30 countries to hear presentations on the latest in ALS care and research.

The 23rd International Symposium on ALS/MND (motor neuron disease), held in Chicago Dec. 5-7, 2012, brought together more than 900 researchers, clinicians and other health care professionals from 30 countries to hear presentations on the latest in ALS care and research.

Protein test predicts ALS progression

It’s known that levels of a protein called phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit (PNF-H) are increased in the spinal fluid of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Now, a team of researchers has demonstrated that higher levels of PNF-H in both the blood and spinal fluid are associated with a faster rate of ALS disease progression and shorter survival time.

Immune system cells known as regulatory T cells— T-regs for short — have been found to play a protective role in mice with a disorder that resembles human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They don't prevent the disease in genetically susceptible mice, but they do appear to slow it down, probably by putting a brake on inflammation in the central nervous system.

Nerve cells called serotonergic neurons degenerate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and may influence the ALS disease process, an international research team has reported. In particular, the loss of these specialized cells appears to be linked to increased muscle tone or tightness (spasticity).

A webinar (Web-based seminar) about neurodegenerative causes of death, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in retired National Football League (NFL) football players is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST, Nov. 15, 2012.

Results from a completed phase 2 trial of the experimental therapy NP001 in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show that in some trial participants, the drug appeared to be effective at slowing or stopping progression of the disease.

It's been known since the early 1990s that mutations in the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene can result in the production of any number of varieties of improperly folded (misfolded) SOD1 protein, and that these misfolded proteins can cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).