NurOwn, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics’ experimental stem cell therapy for ALS, did not win the backing of an independent panel of FDA advisors. Many advisory committee members said they want to see more data from another clinical trial, the same guidance the FDA has given the biotech for nearly three years.

The Biogen amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug, Qalsody, treats patients whose disease is driven by mutations to a gene called SOD1. It’s the first drug approved to target a genetic cause of ALS.

Cytokinetics drug reldesemtiv has failed a pivotal clinical trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The small molecule had previously failed in Phase 2, but the biotech believed adjustments could lead to better results in Phase 3.

Fewer new drugs won FDA approvals in 2022 compared to previous years, but some of the products that passed regulatory muster are indicative of trends expected to continue into 2023. For example, more gene and cell therapies are on track to face regulatory decisions in the coming year.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics’ stem cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis received an FDA refuse-to-file letter, correspondence that informs a company its application seeking approval is incomplete. The notice means BrainStorm might need to run another clinical trial.

In pricing its new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug Relyvrio, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals chose a sum that’s just below the current cost of the last ALS drug to win FDA approval. But a drug price watchdog group argues that prices should be set based on therapeutic value, not according to the price of existing medications.

An Amylyx Pharmaceuticals drug developed to slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is now approved, making it just the third FDA-approved treatment for the disease. Amylyx will market its new product under the name “Relyvrio.”

A Biogen drug designed for a genetically defined form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis led to patient improvement at a 12-month analysis, according to data now published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Biogen had already filed an application seeking FDA approval of the ALS drug, tofersen; a regulatory decision is expected by January.

The FDA has accepted Amylyx Pharmaceuticals’ submission for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug AMX0035 and it expects to issue a regulatory decision by late June. A lot will happen before then. Amylyx recently filed for an IPO and the company’s drug is slated for an advisory committee meeting ahead of an FDA decision.

Three life science companies unveiled Series B rounds of funding Thursday, early Christmas gifts that top $219 million combined. Along with Verge Genomics, the other companies that raised new capital are Tasso and Brainomix.

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals has submitted its amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) drug for FDA review based on positive Phase 2 data after discussions with the agency over the summer. Meanwhile, a Clene Nanomedicine ALS drug failed its Phase 2 study, but the biotech points to encouraging results in a subgroup of patients.

Biogen amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug, tofersen, failed a Phase 3 clinical trial, but the drug showed improvement according to secondary and exploratory goals of the study. Based on those results, the company said it is talking with regulators to find a path forward for the drug.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals drug Ultomiris is already approved to treat a rare blood disorder, but the company hoped the antibody’s approach could also work in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Despite failing in ALS, Alexion, recently acquired by AstraZeneca, brings additional clinical-stage programs for rare diseases.

An amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug from Amylyx Pharmaceuticals is being prepared for Phase 3 clinical testing on track to begin later this quarter. To support that research, the biotech has raised $135 million in financing.

Eli Lilly is partnering with startup Verge Genomics in a move intended to add ALS drugs to its neuroscience pipeline. To date, Verge’s artificial intelligence technology has produced programs internal programs in ALS, Parkinson’s, and frontotemporal dementia.

Amylyx’s ALS drug met the goals of a mid-stage study, paving the way for regulatory submissions in Europe and Canada. But the FDA is requiring data from a larger Phase 3 clinical trial and that study is slated to begin later this year.

A Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics therapy for Lou Gehrig’s disease failed a pivotal study, but the company points to better results in a subgroup. The FDA took the unusual step of publicly stating that study’s results do not show the stem cell therapy helps patients.

A market research report issued at the beginning of the year forecast that the market for ALS drugs in several key countries would exceed $1 billion over a 10-year period.

Despite the trial not showing statistical significance on the primary or secondary efficacy endpoints, the company views the data as supportive of reldesemtiv’s Phase III development

San Francisco-based firm, focusing on Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has raised $36 million to date.