Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis News and Research

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Specific brain abnormalities linked to motor neuron disease in athletes with head trauma

Professional athletes with repetitive head trauma and possibly others with a history of head injuries many years previously may be prone the development of a motor neuron disease similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or "Lou Gehrig's disease"), reports a study in the September Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, official journal of the American Association of Neuropathologists, Inc.

18 Aug 2010

NACTN receives grant to expand spinal cord injury research

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) awarded the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation a $5.4 million grant to support the expansion of translational research to find treatments for military men and women with spinal cord injuries.

18 Aug 2010

CVS/Pharmacy opens new store in Omaha

CVS/pharmacy celebrated its entry into the Omaha market today with a grand opening at one of its two new stores in the city of Omaha. Joining CVS officials at the ceremony were The Honorable Jim Suttle, Mayor of Omaha and City Councilmember Thomas Mulligan, District #7.

16 Aug 2010

Amorfix first-quarter fiscal 2011 net loss from operations increases to $1,724,745

Amorfix Life Sciences, a product development company focused on misfolded protein diseases, today announced its operational and financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

12 Aug 2010

Study finds lithium drugs not effective for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment

A new study has found that the drug lithium is not effective in treating people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. The research is published in the August 11, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

12 Aug 2010

Common soluble proteins become insoluble and form aggregates while aging: Study

In neurodegenerative diseases, clumps of insoluble proteins appear in patients' brains. These aggregates contain proteins that are unique to each disease, such as amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease, but they are intertwined with small amounts of many other insoluble proteins that are normally present in a soluble form in healthy young individuals. For years, these other proteins were thought to be accidental inclusions in the aggregates, much as a sea turtle might be caught in a net of fish.Now, in a surprising new finding, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, report that many of the proteins present as minor components of disease aggregates actually clump together as a normal part of aging in healthy individuals.

11 Aug 2010

Insmed second-quarter net loss decreases to $0.4 million

Insmed Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, today reported results for the second quarter and six-months ended June 30, 2010.

4 Aug 2010

Researchers discover potential method for neurodegenerative disease detection

New investigations, initiated by research workers at CIC bioGUNE and led by Dr. Aitor Hierro, have opened possibilities for making progress in the knowledge and prediction of neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), according to the journal of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.This study opens the possibility of research in humans to detect this pathology before the symptoms arise.

26 Jul 2010

New research focuses on calcium channels in lysosome membrane

In cells, as in cities, disposing of garbage and recycling anything that can be reused is an essential service. In both city and cell, health problems can arise when the process breaks down.

15 Jul 2010

Amorfix grants Biogen Idec exclusive worldwide rights to lead ALS monoclonal antibodies

Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. today announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement granting Biogen Idec exclusive worldwide rights to Amorfix's lead amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) monoclonal antibodies. The antibodies have shown efficacy in animal models of ALS and Biogen Idec will now, at its expense, complete the development and prepare for clinical trials.

15 Jul 2010

Neuralstem announces completion of $10 million registered direct offering

Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CUR) announced that it has completed its previously announced registered direct offering of $10 million of units to institutional investors. The units were priced at $2.80 and consisted of: (i) one share of common stock, and (ii) 3/4 common stock purchase warrant. The warrants have an exercise price of $3.25 and a term of three years. Net proceeds from this offering, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses, total approximately $9.2 million. All of the securities were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement.

1 Jul 2010

Research findings suggest possible diagnostic test for ALS

A team led by a Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute researcher developed a novel approach to efficiently identify disease relevant genes in human complex neurological disorders and demonstrated the effectiveness of this method by applying it to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, according to a new study reported online in the journal, Human Molecular Genetics.

25 Jun 2010

Adult stem cell infusion during bypass surgery improves heart function: Study

Stem cell scientists from around the world gathered at the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in San Francisco to exchange information about the latest treatments with stem cells. An American company, TCA Cellular Therapy, LLC announced its FDA clinical trial results using adult stem cells in patients with history of a heart attack during open heart surgery.

18 Jun 2010

Special public meeting to spotlight stem cell-based therapies for ALS

Local scientists, health advocates and leaders from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will gather in San Diego June 23 for a special public meeting to spotlight a new University of California, San Diego grant to pursue novel, fast-tracked stem cell-based therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

18 Jun 2010

Research studies may lead to future development of cell transplant therapy for ALS

The University of California, San Diego, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Life Technologies Corporation today announced the initiation of studies which may lead to the future development of cell transplant therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Currently, there is only one FDA-approved pharmaceutical addressing this lethal disease, which affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States.

17 Jun 2010

Amorfix Life Sciences reports operational and year-end financial results for fiscal 2010

Amorfix Life Sciences, a company focused on the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and diagnostics for the treatment of fatal neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, today announced its operational and financial results for the year ended March 31, 2010, as well as financial results for the fourth quarter.

11 Jun 2010

NIH awards Aestus $2M SBIR grant for clinical trials of treatment for chronic neuropathic pain

Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a $2 million Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant, from the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), will fund clinical trials of Aestus's novel, first-in-class treatment for chronic neuropathic pain.

9 Jun 2010

Pharnext closes €4.8-million Series A funding round

Pharnext SAS, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative treatments based on Pleotherapy™ for severe neurological diseases, today announced that it had closed a €4.8-million Series A round of funding on June 3rd (corresponding to a company valuation of €45 million).

9 Jun 2010

Amorfix Life Sciences signs licensing agreement with PREVENT

Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. and Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise Inc. of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, today announced that the two groups have entered into a licensing agreement granting PREVENT exclusive worldwide rights to Amorfix's lead amyotrophic lateral sclerosis vaccines.

3 Jun 2010

Johns Hopkins professor receives $1M MSCRF grant to study glial cells for treating myelin disorders

Q Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that Piotr Walczak, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University has received notification of a $1,000,000 grant to be awarded by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) which will enable further study of Q's human neural glial cell product Q-Cells® in preclinical models of demyelinating disease.

2 Jun 2010