ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) clinical trials — recruiting now

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive, terminal condition of muscle weakness that is associated with degeneration of neurons in the spinal cord and brain. This devastating disorder afflicts people in the prime of their lives. At the present time, there are no cures for this disorder, and current treatments are marginal at best. Despite years of intensive research, a fundamental understanding of this disease is still lacking. There is a need to identify both reliable markers of disease progression and effective treatments. The goal of this research is to bring a greater understanding of ALS patients closer to the research studies that can lead to new hypotheses and approaches.

The objective is to compare the efficacy and safety of masitinib in combination with riluzole versus matched placebo in combination with riluzole for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The purpose of this research is to investigate the validity of a previous clinical trial named EH301, which showed beneficial effects of anti-oxidant therapies in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). If validated by this study, providing over-the-counter anti-oxidants would be a simple, low risk, low-cost approach to significantly slow or stop the progression of ALS, for which currently no effective treatment exists. It is currently thought that oxidative stress is a major cause of ALS. The study investigators are therefore planning to expand the original scope of the previous trial by including anti-oxidants at high doses that were not previously used. All of these compounds are considered safe.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effect of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and age-matched speakers. The question is, What are the effects of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with ALS? Participants will read words and sentences while they are in a solo setting and interactive setting.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious rapidly progressive disease of the nervous system. The average survival from the time of diagnosis is two to three years. The patient physical and psychological sufferings in ALS are immense, and apart from Riluzole, there is no effective treatment. Care of advanced ALS have an estimated cost of 4-8 million NOK per year. Perhaps the most challenging topic of ALS care is the decision to extend ventilation support into the stages of disease that require treatment both during day and night. In these cases, treatment is clearly life-sustaining and although quality of life may be maintained, the burden of caregiving imposed upon family or health care workers is huge, regardless of tracheostomy (TIV) or non-invasive (NIV) modality. The present study is a longitudinal questionnaire study in Norway measuring overall quality of life, health-related quality of life, and disease-specific quality of life in ALS patients, partners and children before and after the introduction of life sustaining ventilation support. The investigators aim to increase the knowledge on how life-sustaining ventilation support with NIV or TIV affects the quality of life in ALS patients, life partners and children. The results from the study may provide crucial information for clinicians and patients on one of the most difficult ethical issues of ALS treatment. The investigators anticipate that this information will facilitate a shared decision making processes, weighing benefits and disadvantages in a wider perspective.

The specific aim of this study is to try to discover the diagnostic accuracy of SleepImage technology for detecting respiratory failure in patients with MND. Importantly, this research project is not about NIV, it is about what method can most efficiently decide when to start NIV. To do this we'd like to collect data about you and your breathing from the SleepImage device when you come in for your routine overnight sleep study. We will compare this against the data that we would collect anyway.

The purpose of this study is to explore the genetic causes relevant for ALS development in Norway.

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the efficacy of TPS of the motor cortex on biomarkers and clinical endpoints in patients with ALS. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Stage 1: Is there a change in the short intracortical inhibition (SICI) of the motor cortex from baseline to week 8? * Stage 2: Is there a change from baseline to month 6 in the ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) total score? In stage 2, researchers will compare the group receiving the stimulation vs the group receiving a sham stimulation to see if there is a difference in motor cortex activity and in the ALSFRS-R score Participants will receive either: * the TPS treatment * a sham TPS treatment

An open, multi- center phase Ⅰ clinical study evaluating the safety and efficacy of autologous human polyclonal regulatory T cell injection (NP001 cell injection) in patients with Neurodegenerative diseases (ALS).

ActiSLA is a monocentric academic study. Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may be included on a voluntary basis. The investigators plan to include a group of approximately 20 patients with ALS. The investigators have planned to assess patient every three months for a year. On each visit, participants will undergo a clinical examination with MRC sum score and Ashworth scores. They will perform few tests ( 6-minutes walk test (6MWT), dynamometric measure, electromyography, Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen ) and will answer to some questionaires (dysphagia handicap scale, ALS-SFR-r). After each visit, participants will wear Actimyo for one month daily.

The purpose of this study is to collect, from patients with sporadic and familial ALS and their family members, clinical data and blood samples for extraction of DNA, RNA, preparation of lymphocytes, plasma and serum to establish a repository for future investigations of genetic contributions to ALS pathogenesis. Blood samples for DNA extraction also would be collected from control subjects with no personal or family history of ALS phenotypes.

This is a multi-site study of ALS participants and healthy controls who will undergo brain and cervical spine MRIs and NfL blood testing at up-to 4 time points over the course of a year. The primary goal is to identify objective biomarkers of disease progression that are biologically relevant, linearly progressive, and sensitive to change.

This study will examine what happens when patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are given an investigational medication (study drug) known as LTX-002. Specifically, the researchers will be looking at safety, tolerability (if someone has any side effects from the drug), pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the study drug) and pharmacodynamics (what the study drug does to the body). The study will also investigate the effect of the drug on indicators of the severity of ALS, such as markers in blood and in the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, CSF) and on measures of the participant's ability to move, speak, and breathe.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disease in the human motor system characterized by the selective involvement of spinal cord anterior horn cells, brainstem motor nuclei, and the corticospinal tract. It predominantly presents as concurrent damage to upper and lower motor neurons. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a type of induced pluripotent stem cell derived from autologous or allogeneic cell sources. They can differentiate into various functional cell types, including specific motor neuron cells. iPSCs are used for stem cell replacement therapy. iPSCs hold significant clinical potential for ALS treatment. The iPSC database with human leukocyte antigen characteristics may represent a promising technology. This technology has the potential to obtain high-quality cell products and reduce the risk of graft rejection. Moreover, human iPSCs have demonstrated a certain degree of efficacy in the transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells derived from ALS rodent models. The potential mechanisms of iPSC therapy for ALS include: the differentiated motor neuron precursor cells can replace damaged motor neurons, and restore motor conduction function; by secreting neurotrophic factors, they protect neurons; through immune regulation, they inhibit inflammatory reactions, and slow the progression of ALS. Xellsmart Biomedical (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. is developing an injectable solution for ALS treatment using human iPSC-derived motor neuron precursor cells to address the pressing need for ALS therapy.

ActiALS is a multicentric academic study. Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be included on a voluntary basis. The investigators plan to include a group of approximately 30 patients with ALS. The investigators have planned to assess patient every three months for a year. After each visit, participants will wear Actimyo for one month daily.

Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating conditions characterized by chronic inflammation, leading to dysfunction of both the non-neuronal cellular components of the central nervous system and peripheral blood immune cells. Thus, it is crucial to develop an innovative therapeutic strategy that not only effectively contrast neurodegeneration but also aims to reduce inflammation. The overall aim of the study is to provide a preclinical in vitro demonstration of the immunomodulatory and pro-regenerative potential of the human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cell (hAMSC) secretome in counteracting neurodegeneration. This potential will be evaluated in three-dimensional in vitro models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and chronic demyelinating disease (multiple sclerosis - MS). To this end, the study includes sample collection from patients without pharmacological treatment and without medical devices. Patients diagnosed with ALS, patients diagnosed with MS, and healthy volunteers will be recruited to collect blood samples and skin biopsies. Patient-specific and control organoid platforms, mimicking cellular heterogeneity and tridimensional interactions within the central nervous system including the inflammatory compartment, will be developed to be used as a valuable tool to investigate the in vitro efficacy of the hAMSC secretome.

The purpose of the Clinical Procedures To Support Research (CAPTURE) study is to utilize information collected in the medical record to learn more about a disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related disorders.

Background: Neurodegenerative disorders can lead to problems in movement or memory. Some can cause abnormal proteins to build up in brain cells. Researchers want to understand whether these diseases have related causes or risk factors. Objective: To test people with movement or thinking and memory problems to see if they are eligible for research studies. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older with a neurodegenerative disorder associated with accumulation of TDP-43 or Tau proteins Design: Participants will have a screening visit. This may take place over 2-3 days. Tests include: Medical history Physical exam Questions about behavior and mood Tests of memory, attention, concentration, and thinking Movement measurement. The speed at which participants can stand up from a chair, tap their finger and foot, and walk a short distance will be measured. Some movements will be videotaped. They will be videotaped while they speak and read a paragraph. Blood tests. This might include genetic testing. Lung and breathing tests MRI. They will lie on a table that slides into a cylinder that takes pictures of the body. Some participants will get a dye through IV. Electromyography. A thin needle will be inserted into the muscles to measure electrical signals. Nerve tests. Small electrodes on the skin record muscle and nerve activity. A small piece of skin may be removed. A skin or blood sample may be taken to create stem cells. Optional lumbar puncture. A needle will be inserted into the space between the bones of the back to collect fluid. If participants are not eligible for current studies, they may be contacted in the future. ...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been traditionally considered incurable and untreatable. But starting in the 1990s with the introduction of Riluzole, therapies are being discovered and ultimately approved for slowing disease progression. Many pharmaceutical companies continue to seek new therapeutic approaches. One critical aspect of all clinical trials is the need track to progression sensitively to identify the impact of therapy. Tools to track ALS progression must be convenient, objective, require minimal training, be easily standardized, cost-efficient, and have the potential to be applied effectively at home. There has been a push to identify accurate, objective biomarkers of ALS progression. In this study, the investigators propose to use Electrical impedance myography (EIM) to evaluate the progression of the disease. Work has shown that the EIM 50 kilohertz (kHz) phase value from one or more muscles, followed sequentially, can serve as an effective overall biomarker for assessing the rate of ALS progression for a single person.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether tofersen is safe and effective in adults with non-SOD1 ALS. Tofersen is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SOD1-ALS. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does tofersen lower the levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the blood and CSF of adult participants with non-SOD1 ALS? * Is tofersen safe and tolerable for adult participants with non-SOD1 ALS? * Does tofersen affect other measurements such as clinical outcomes and quality-of-life measures in participants with non-SOD1 ALS? Participants will : * Receive 100mg tofersen via lumbar puncture for 24 weeks. The doses are at the following time points: Weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. * Complete 2 follow-up visits following the end of the dosing period at Weeks 28 and 32. * Complete a variety of questionnaires and outcome measurements such as strength and breathing testing.