Metabolon to Search for ALS Biomarkers

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD, USA).

The recipient of the grant was Metabolon, Inc. (Research Triangle Park, NC, USA), which has developed new technology for measuring the spectrum of biochemical changes and then mapping these changes to metabolic pathways. The technology can be used to identify novel biomarkers of disease and identify safer compounds for drug development.

ALS, or Lou Gherig's disease, is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. About 5,600 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone. Once diagnosed, the average life expectancy of an ALS patient is two to five years. There is currently only one drug on the market for the treatment of ALS.

Metabolon will test plasma samples obtained from patients using its metabolomics platform to identify biomarkers for ALS. These biomarkers will be compared to those of other motor neuron diseases to determine if the ALS signature is unique or common to other motor neuron disorders. Metabolon will also study how biomarkers for ALS change with disease progression. If the company is successful in identifying unique biomarkers, these could become the basis for a diagnostic test and new therapies.

"It is clear from the receipt of our third grant that Metabolon's technology has great potential to discover novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of ALS,” noted Dr. John Ryals, president and CEO of Metabolon.




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