Breakthrough ALS study launches as drug aims to slow disease progression
Kuldip Dave, PhD, senior vice president of research for The ALS Association in New York City, also commented on the “urgent need” for new ALS treatment options.
“The earlier we can diagnose and treat ALS, the greater the potential to preserve function and maintain quality of life for longer, which is key to making ALS livable until we can cure it,” he said in the release.
Actor Eric Dane passed away in February 2026 after his battle with ALS. He is photographed at the St. Regis in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 30, 2025. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“It was discouraging to see a lack of overall effect in the phase 2 study population,” he said. “However, we were encouraged to see positive signals emerge from various subgroups, including potential impacts on speech and respiratory function.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“Because respiratory decline is a leading cause of ALS morbidity and mortality, even modest preservation of breathing capacity can have a meaningful impact on both quality of life and overall outcomes.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The insights gained from the phase 3 trial will be critical in determining whether these early signals translate into “meaningful, consistent benefits for people with early, rapidly progressing ALS,” Dave added.
Dave praised ALS patients for their participation in these studies, along with family members and caregivers for their support. ”Participating in ALS research is one of the most powerful ways individuals can contribute to accelerating scientific discovery and making ALS livable until we cure it.”
What to know about ALS
Early signs of the disease include muscle weakness, stiffness and cramping. Symptom progression and severity are different for each case, and the association notes that there is “no single timeline for ALS.”
The disease only affects motor neurons controlling voluntary movement, so the five senses — sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell — are not affected, nor are the eye muscles or bladder control.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease in which the brain loses connection with the muscles, according to The ALS Association. (iStock)
Diagnosis typically occurs between the ages of 40 and 70. Many ALS patients remain “mentally alert and aware” throughout the disease, The ALS Association reported.
ALS is “always fatal,” Dave told Fox News Digital, as most people live only three to five years after diagnosis. About 20% of patients live five years or longer, and only about 5% live longer than 20 years.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
There is currently no cure or treatment to stop disease progression.
Prilenia, a Netherlands-based biotech company, shared with Fox News Digital that as neurodegenerative diseases progress, the damage is “irreversible,” making them difficult to treat.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“This is why we are focusing on an early, rapidly progressive patient population rather than a broader range of patients, as this provides the best chance of evaluating drug effect within the confines of a time-limited clinical trial,” the company stated.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/breakthrough-als-study-launches-drug-aims-slow-disease-progression