Program to provide investigational drug to ALS patients who would otherwise be ineligible for clinical trials SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WideTrial , an innovator of expanded access program (EAP) solutions, announced its participation in an NIH-funded collaboration to provide pre-approval access to an investigational ALS drug.
The program will offer access to ibudilast, an experimental drug being studied for its potential to slow the progression of ALS, to patients who are ineligible for clinical trials. The program is funded by a $22 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and will be led by Dr. Bjorn Oskarsson at Mayo Clinic's ALS Center of Excellence in Jacksonville, Florida .
It aims to enroll 200 ALS patients across all three Mayo Clinic centers and other participating institutions. WideTrial will support the program by engaging a growing group of ALS specialists, enabling greater diversity of patient location and background in the treatment program. The study aims to measure ibudilast's effect on ALS progression using a blood test that shows whether neurofilament protein levels have changed in patients with ALS.
High levels of neurofilament proteins may indicate damage in neurons. "We are pleased to support this important initiative to expand access to investigational ALS treatments," said Jess Rabourn , CEO of WideTrial. "At WideTrial, we believe every patient deserves a chance to explore potential .
