Gemals, a new drug candidate, extends lifespan and improves electromyographic parameters in a rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Charles Nicaise, Jerome Coupier, Marie-Pierre Dabadie, Robert De Decker, Arturo Mangas, Dominique Bodet, Luc Poncelet, Michel Geffard, Roland Pochet

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease involving selective and progressive degeneration and death of motor neurons. ALS is a multifactorial disease in which oxidative stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, intracellular aggregates, neurofilamentous disorganization, zinc excitotoxicity, mitochondrial damage, neuroinflammation, abnormalities in growth factors and apoptosis play a role. Any therapeutic approach to delay or stop the evolution of ALS should therefore ideally target these multiple pathways leading to motor neuron death. We have developed a combination therapy (Gemals) composed of functional polypeptides (fatty acids, free radical scavengers and amino acids linked to poly-L-lysine), chosen according to their known potentiality for regeneration or protection of neuronal components such as myelin, axon transport and mitochondria. We found that Gemals significantly extended lifespan and improved electromyographic parameters in a SOD1(G93A) rat model. The use of two drug concentrations indicated a possible dose dependence. These initial findings open the way to further investigation necessary to validate this new drug as a candidate for ALS treatment.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)85-90
Number of pages6
JournalAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis : official publication of the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2008

Keywords

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Combinations
  • Electromyography
  • Longevity
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Polylysine
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss

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