Birkbeck research offers new insights for future motor neurone disease drug development
The findings reveal details about how current Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis drugs work, providing a roadmap for designing next-generation treatments.
Research led by Bonnie Ann Wallace, Professor of Molecular Biophysics in Birkbeck’s Department of Biological Sciences, has revealed critical insights into how future drugs might be developed to improve the lives of those living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The findings, recently published in Nature Communications, could pave the way for treatments that are more targeted and effective than the current options available.
ALS, also known as a motor neurone disease (MND), is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has recently received increased attention due to possible links with repeated head injuries in high-contact sports like rugby. The disease results from the unregulated leaking of sodium ions into neurons, which gradually impairs muscle function. Currently, Riluzole is the only EU approved drug for ALS, working by reducing this harmful sodium ion leakage.
Professor Wallace and her research team identified the exact binding site where Riluzole interacts with sodium channels, a site distinct from where drugs for other conditions typically bind.
Professor Wallace commented: "By pinpointing exactly where Riluzole binds, we open up new possibilities for designing more focused drugs, better designed to prevent sodium leakage. Such future treatments could bring a meaningful improvement in quality of life and survival time for those affected by ALS."