SignALS

Coya Therapeutics launched a Phase 2 trial of COYA 302, a combo of a signaling molecule with abatacept, to slow amyotrophic lateral sclerosis over about six months. About 120 adults aged 18–75 with ALS diagnosed within the last two years will join across roughly 25 sites in the United States and Canada. Participants will be randomized to two doses or placebo for 24 weeks, then may join an extension.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the focus as researchers explore repurposing existing drugs for this disease. Repurposing can speed access and reuse drugs with known safety, but trials can still be long, costly, and sometimes fail. Still, the field is pushing for faster, safer paths and patient involvement to bring meaningful options to people with the disease sooner.

Researchers measured neurofilament proteins in cerebrospinal fluid from people with ALS and other brain diseases. Neurofilament medium (NfM), neurofilament light (NfL), and neurofilament heavy (NfH) were higher in ALS and correlated well; they could distinguish ALS from controls with good accuracy, hinting at diagnostic value, but more work is needed.