Diseases

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, meaning it is a chronic condition that worsens over time as damage builds up to parts of the nervous system. It affects a specific type of neurons – the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord – and causes a gradual loss of muscle function that eventually leads to paralysis and death¹. ALS is a rare pathology that affects 4.42 out of every 100,000 people ². It is more common in men than in women¹^,³, and the median survival is 2 to 5 years³.

Rear view of a medical professional with braided hair working in front of a computer with a colleague in an office or lab.

The exact cause of ALS is not fully known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There are two main types of ALS: sporadic, which accounts for approximately 90% of cases and occurs without a family history, and familial, which is hereditary (related to genetic mutations) and accounts for about 10% of cases^1,3.

ALS usually occurs in people between the ages of 40 and 70¹^,³ and presents with a variety of symptoms, including muscle weakness and atrophy, mobility problems such as lack of coordination and balance, muscle spasms, difficulty speaking clearly (dysarthria), swallowing problems (dysphagia), fatigue, and emotional and cognitive changes⁴.

Close-up of a health professional in green uniform empathetically holding a patient's hand.

Symptoms worsen over time and affect the quality of life of patients and their families by limiting their autonomy to perform daily activities.

Goutman SA, Hardiman O, Al-Chalabi A,et al. Recent advances in the diagnosis and prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Lancet Neurol. 2022; 21(5):480-493. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00465-8.
Xu L, Liu T, Liu L, et al. Global variation in prevalence and incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol. Apr 2020; 267(4):944–953. DOI:10.1007/S00415-019-09652-Y
Masrori P, Van Damme P. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a clinical review. Eur J Neurol. 2020; 27(10):1918-1929. doi:10.1111/jan.14393
Muscular Dystrophy Association. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Signs and Symptoms [Internet]. MDA [Accessed October 18, 2024]. Available in: https://www.mda.org/disease/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/signs-and-symptoms

FNP 254* – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Phase 3

FNP-254-CT-2501 PREVAiLS

Neurological disorders
A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pridopidine in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Eclerosis.

Ongoing

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