WASHINGTON: Amylyx Pharmaceuticals said on Thursday that it was discontinuing its licensed therapy for ALS, a fatal neurological illness, following clinical data that revealed the medication was ineffective.
The American corporation announced in a statement that it would no longer be utilizing the Relyvrio/Albrioza brand names in the US and Canada, and that it would be discontinuing its market authorizations for the medication.
Co-CEOs of the business said in a statement, “Although this is a challenging time for the ALS community, we reached this path forward in partnership with the stakeholders who will be impacted and in line with our steadfast commitment to people living with ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.”
In addition, the business announced that it was cutting staff “by approximately 70 percent” in order to concentrate on other medications. The announcement comes after results from a clinical trial involving 664 ALS patients was made public in March. The trial’s findings showed no appreciable variations in the outcomes of the treatment group and the placebo group.
For those suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the well-known baseball star, it was a severe setback as the condition destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
About two persons per 100,000 are affected by ALS each year, which results in a progressive loss of motor and cognitive function. The majority of patients pass within five years after being diagnosed. There are currently very few therapy options available.
