Clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Purpose of review: To review new developments in the field of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical trial design and to review the implications of the latest ALS clinical trials.

Recent findings: There has been substantial reflection on how clinical trials in ALS are best conducted. The revised Airlie House recommendations are an important milestone and should guide trial design. In addition, innovations using individualized risk-based eligibility criteria, adaptive designs, joint modelling, patient-centred approaches, and remote collection of data show real promise. Edaravone was shown to have benefit on function in a well defined subset of patients with ALS, although there are concerns about the generalizability of the findings. Studies of arimoclomol, inosine, and cellular therapies have demonstrated promising signals in early phase work and are being taken forward into larger studies. Well conducted studies of rasagaline did not show an effect on primary outcome measures.

Summary: For many decades there has been regular disappointment with the results of clinical trials. With the innovations in trial design and advances in our basic understanding of the biology of ALS, the prospects for a step change in treatments for people affected by ALS are strong.