Mitochondrial Capacity Boost in ALS (MICABO-ALS) Trial

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects muscle function throughout the body. Weakness and muscle shrinkage begin either in the face, arm, or leg. A clinical ALS hallmark is rapidly progressive weight loss. Also, respiration is usually affected late in the disease, and death typically occurs as a consequence of respiratory failure. The median survival after disease onset is approximately 3-4 years.

While there are now two FDA-approved agents for patients with ALS, there are no interventions that have had a meaningful impact on the natural course of this disease. Riluzole prolongs survival by up to 12 weeks. Edaravone improves some aspects of neurological function in a small subset of patients, but that was ineffective in clinical studies that included ALS patients at all stages of disease.

Past failures to identify effective therapies reflect the complexity of ALS pathogenesis, in that no single therapeutic target has been identified. Thus, single agent or dual combination therapies are unlikely to succeed. Given the truly rapid and devastating nature of ALS and that there are no effective treatments for ALS, one can argue that it is critical to devise a different approach. Until the exact mechanisms that lead to ALS are identified, it is necessary to employ polytherapy which includes new agents that show promise.

This study will lay further groundwork on methodology for performing more definite trials in ALS. The study of secondary biomarkers in ALS is significant because there are currently no molecular or biochemical biomarkers for assessing therapeutic efficacy of drug treatments in ALS clinical trials. By doing this study, the study investigators hope to learn that high-dose anti-oxidants would be a simple, low risk, low-cost approach to significantly slow or stop the progression of ALS, for which currently no effective treatment exists. Participation in this research will last about 13 months

Inclusion criteria

• A clinical diagnosis by a study investigator of laboratory-supported probable, probable, or definite ALS, according to a modified El Escorial criterion (Appendix 2).
• 21 to 80 years of age inclusive.
• If patients are taking riluzole for ALS, they must be on a stable dose for at least thirty days prior to the baseline visit.
• Willing and able to give signed informed consent that has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of other neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, etc.).
• Clinically significant history of unstable medical illness (unstable angina, advanced cancer, etc.) over the last 30 days.
• Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Limited mental capacity such that the patient cannot provide written informed consent or comply with evaluation procedures.
• History of recent alcohol or drug abuse or noncompliance with treatment or other experimental protocols. 6 Receipt of any investigational drug within the past 30 days.