ALS Drug Fizzles

Clinical test results for olesoxime disappoint.

Late-stage clinical test results for a drug to help treat ALS were not very promising, according to the manufacturer.

Trophos SA says the results from the Phase III study of its lead compound, olesoxime, did not demonstrate a significant increase in survival versus placebo in 512 patients with ALS also receiving riluzole (Rilutek^®).

The drug was well tolerated; however, it is believed this outcome is most likely because in ALS the disease process is already so severe and rapidly progressing by the time of diagnosis that any further benefit of olesoxime over that of riluzole cannot be detected. This trend was measured by the ALSFRS-R functional rating scale.

“Although these results are disappointing, the ALS investigator community continues to test a variety of different approaches to treat ALS with several trials ongoing,” says ALS Association Chief Scientist Lucie Bruijn, PhD. “The association encourages people with ALS to continue to enroll in ALS trials with a hope that one or more will provide important discoveries and lead to effective treatments for the disease.”

For more information, visit alsa.org.

 

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