New treatment to slow down ALS

Rubèn López Vales

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS, is a neurodegenerative disease that causes muscular problems that lead to the immobility of the afflicted person. Life expectancy is between three and five years from the moment of the diagnosis of the disease, which affects around 450,000 people worldwide.

Although the causes of this disease are unknown, neuroinflammation is one of the pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to its appearance and progression. So far, anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to be ineffective in treating symptoms and slowing down the progress of the disease.

Recent studies have described a new family of lipids that actively promote the repair of tissues. Scientists have already demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing inflammation in patients who are recovering from an injury to the spinal cord. They have solved major challenges of inflammation, reducing the secondary effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.

The project will investigate the contribution of these lipids in mice with ALS to find new therapies and see if they are more effective than current ones, such as riluzole. The aim is to slow down the progress of this neurodegenerative pathology and to find new biomarkers that predict its evolution.

• Mònica Povedano Panadès, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Spain

• Homero Rubbo Amonini, Universidad Republica Uruguay, Uruguay

Activation of the resolution programs of inflammation as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

€500,000