Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Reformulated Drug Could Improve Brain Function and Longevity

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare group of progressive neurological disorder. It is also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease and affects the motor nerve cells in both the brain and the spinal cord.

A research team from //Ben-gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has developed a new therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) by reformulating a part of an existing FDA-approved drug.

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A specific cure for ALS does not exist, hence the treatment of the disease is focused on slowing the progression of the disease and making it manageable.

‘Reformulated drug can improve brain function and life expectancy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.’

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This could help to restore the central nervous system’s (CNS) immune defenses and increases the life expectancy.

Since the exact cause of ALS is unknown, current research has focused on extending the post-onset life expectancy, which is currently between two to five years for most patients.

Part of the disease's progression is linked to increased activity of glial cells, a type of immune cell that damages and kills the body's motor neuron cells and decreases their ability to cleanse the CNS environment.

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View list of generic and brand names of drugs used for treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Find more information including dose, side effects of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) medicine.

Dr. Rachel Lichtenstein of the Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering at BGU has focused on reducing this negative immune response.

"We found a way to thwart the glial cells from attacking and killing healthy brain cells," says Dr. Lichtenstein.

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological disorder which can reduce the life span of the affected individual. Supportive treatment helps to make the patient comfortable. Find out more on ALS by taking this quiz.

She successfully redesigned a portion of MabThera, an FDA-approved drug used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and types of cancer, into a new molecule to treat ALS.

"Our experimental results on ALS transgenic mice showed a significant increase in life expectancy", says Dr. Lichtenstein.

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"Since the drug is already approved, we believe that we will only need limited preclinical testing to reach the clinical phase earlier than other initiatives."

"This could also have major implications on the life expectancy of other neurodegenerative disease patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's," says Dr. Ora Horovitz, senior vice president of business development at BGN Technologies, BGU's technology transfer and commercialization company.

"Our new drug candidate may prove effective in boosting the self-cleansing mechanism of the human brain, thereby improving the lives of millions of people." The researchers are now seeking a pharmaceutical company partner.

Currently, there are only two drugs available for ALS patients: Reluzole (Rilutek), which helps extend patient survival by only three to six months; and the recently FDA- approved Edaravone (Radicava), which has demonstrated relatively modest success.

Source-Eurekalert