AstraZeneca is discontinuing a Phase III trial of the long-acting complement inhibitor it gained via its Alexion acquisition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis because of lack of efficacy in an interim analysis. Interest is now turning to antisense and cell therapy candidates from other companies that are in late-stage development for the condition.

CytoDyn’s COVID-19 candidate leronlimab joins BrainStorm’s ALS therapy in being taken to task as FDA has become more willing to publicly counter investigational drug data announcements it considers to be misleading.

Agency’s unusual public statement about an investigational product's development status may be aimed at countering bullish comments from the sponsor; FDA cites failure of pivotal trial on the primary and secondary endpoints and ‘modest excess in deaths’ with the cell therapy.

Top-line results from BrainStorm’s NurOwn Phase III ALS study show the cell therapy missed the primary efficacy endpoint, but clinically meaningful responses were seen in a pre-specified subgroup which investigators considered potentially a significant step forward in therapy.