Active clinical trials for "Motor Neuron Disease"

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of intramuscular (IM) administration of Engensis in Participants with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as compared to Placebo. Safety will be assessed by incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TESAEs), injection site reactions (ISRs) and other adverse events of special interest (AESIs), and the clinically significant laboratory values after injections of Engensis compared to Placebo. Exploratory endpoints include assessment of muscle function using the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and ALSFRS-R subscores for Fine and Gross Motor Function; muscle strength by quantitative testing using handheld dynamometry (HHD) and the Accurate Test of Limb Isometric Strength (ATLIS) where available; quality of life using the ALS Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40); patient global impression of change (PGIC), clinical global impression of change (CGIC), and clinical global impression of severity (CGIS); and evaluation of lung function using Slow Vital Capacity (SVC). Muscle biopsies will be performed during the study for future biomarker analyses.

This will be a 6-month, widely inclusive, virtual, single-center, open-label pilot trial utilizing a historical control group.

The HEALEY ALS Platform Trial is a perpetual multi-center, multi-regimen clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of investigational products for the treatment of ALS. Regimen E will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single study drug, SLS-005 (Trehalose injection, 90.5 mg/mL for intravenous infusion) in participants with ALS.

Dysphagia (swallow impairment), dystussia (cough impairment) and respiratory impairment are hallmark features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These symptoms are the cause of fatal aspiration, malnutrition and respiratory insufficiency that together account for 91.4% of ALS mortality. Unfortunately, treatments to prolong and maintain these vital functions are currently lacking. Although the use of exercise in ALS is controversial, recent evidence suggests that mild to moderate intensity exercise applied early in the disease slows disease progression, improves motor function, preserves motor neuron number, reduces muscle hypoplasia, atrophy astrogliosis, and prolongs survival in animal models of ALS and human clinical trials. This research study is designed to determine the impact of respiratory strength training on breathing, airway protection and swallowing in persons with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Depression is seen in 9-11% of ALS patients and adequate and proper treatment is needed. In this study, ALS patients will be screened for depression using self-reported multiple choice questionnaire. Patients who fulfill the criteria for depression based on this screening tool will be evaluated by psychiatrist before inclusion in the study. The investigators will also measure quality of life and functional status by simple questionnaires. The patients will be allocated into two treatment groups to receive either TCA or SSRI for 12 weeks. Patients will be evaluated every 4 weeks and phone calls will be made in between the visits if needed to assess about efficacy and any side effects. If any patient reports having suicidal thoughts on any of these phone calls or clinic visits, he/she will be immediately sent to the ER for appropriate management. The investigators will repeat the questionnaires in the clinic visits, and use them in the data analysis to look for any improvement and to compare the two medication classes used in this study. This data may be used later on to do larger studies and help to make standard recommendations in treating depression in ALS patients.

This research study is being done to find out if tocilizumab, also known as Actemra™, can help with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The investigators also want to find out if tocilizumab is safe to take without causing too many side effects. Currently ALS has no cure and 2 modestly effective treatment to slow the progression of the disease. Although not the initial cause of ALS, the immune system plays a role in the death of motor neurons. The immune cells that participate in this process are stimulated by a substance called interleukin-6 (IL-6) whose effect is blocked by tocilizumab and thus, may slow the death of motor neurons and slow the disease.

This project assessed muscle oxidative metabolism and fatigue in patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) undergoing to three months of individualized cardiovascular and strength training. Muscle oxidative metabolism and strength will be assessed by non-invasive methods, such as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and mechanomyography (MMG). NIRS is a technique giving indications on the capacity of oxygen extraction of muscles during exercise. MMG allows analyzing the pattern of motor unit recruitment and related fatigue. The investigators will also assess the effects of training on pain tolerance and quality of life (QoL) by the Brief Pain Inventory and the McGill Quality of Life questionnaires, using the validated Italian versions. Patients will be assessed longitudinally before (time T0) and after three months of individualized training (time T1). After one month of de-training (time T2) the investigators will assess the hypothetic persistence of any treatment-related effect. The effect of three months-osteopathic treatment (osteo) on pain and QoL will be assessed as well.

The investigator is examining the use of one airway clearance medical device compared to the use of two airway clearance medical devices together in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). More specifically, the investigator wants to know how effective the use of either a mechanical High Frequency Chest Compression (HFCC) device is on its own or the use of both a mechanical High Frequency Chest Compression (HFCC) device and Cough Assist together to maintain a healthy airway and clear secretions. The first device is a passive form of mechanical High Frequency Chest Compression (HFCC), which was designed to help clear the airway of mucus and other secretions through mechanical knocking of the chest area. The second device, called a Cough Assist, aids patients to clear mucus and secretions that they would otherwise be unable to clear with coughing. This study will enroll up to 20 people in total at CSMC.

Lacosamide is administered for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

This is a Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of NP001 in subjects with ALS.