Overview
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. According to Global estimates, ALS's annual incidence and prevalence are 4 to 6 per 100,000 and 3 to 5 per 100,000, respectively. The usual age of onset of ALS is 55 to 65 years old. Out of all the ALS cases, 10% of them are people who have inherited the disease from their parents. The ratio of males to females is 2:1.
The Foundation for Research on Rare Diseases and Disorders (FRRDD) estimates that there are 5 cases of ALS per 100,000 people in India.
ALS is a severe disorder; hence, there is an absolute need to find a new treatment for ALS that can prolong the lives of people suffering from the disease.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other organizations are working diligently to further our understanding of this devastating disease and to find effective therapies.
Let’s look at the latest developments in the medical field regarding ALS!!
On 29th September 2022, the FDA approved a new ALS medicine. Relyvrio is the new ALS medication approved. It is a combination of two medicines, namely sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol. The drug has increased the overall survival rate among people during clinical trials.
Are you curious to know how Relyvrio will cure ALS?? Continue reading to find out!!
How did the Relyvrio study work?
People with ALS gradually lose their ability to walk, move, swallow or breathe. About 80 percent of people with ALS pass away within two to five years of the onset of the disease. The new treatment is not yet the ALS potential cure. The powdered mixture is combined with water and consumed or taken through a feeding tube. It intends to halt the progression of the illness by defending brain and spinal cord nerve cells damaged by ALS.
Relyvrio, produced by Amylyx Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The approval is based on the findings from the multicenter phase 2 clinical study CENTAUR published in The New England Journal of Medicine on September 3, 2020. 137 people with ALS participated in the six-month, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. After that, an open-label extension and long-term follow-up phase was done. Results indicated that the new ALS experimental treatment the FDA has approved might increase patients' lifespan by at least five to six months.
Before taking any medication, read about its side effects! The medication dosage your doctor prescribes depends on several factors, including the frequency and severity of your condition and other health issues. That's why it is always recommended to consult your doctor before taking any medication. Keep reading to learn more.
Are there any side effects associated with Relyvrio?
According to the results, the most commonly reported side effects were gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, nausea, salivary hypersecretion, and abdominal pain.
However, looking at the tolerance level among people, the FDA has concluded the drug is safe for ALS treatment.
The advantage is that ALS patients can consume this new drug for ALS approved by the FDA along with other ALS drugs. This fact gives researchers hope that combining these drugs might provide a solution for people with ALS.
What is the cost of Relyvrio?
Keeping everything in mind, the drug producer Amylyx has said that the drug will cost around $12,504.24, or about $158,000 annually.
For people with ALS insurance, Amylyx will provide them with lower copays.
References:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/news-events
https://www.everydayhealth.com/als/
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/
