Biogen announces new ALS research collaboration

Biogen has announced a new research collaboration intended to broaden its understanding of the genetic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The company will work alongside the ALS Association and Columbia University Medical Center to better understand the differences and commonalities in the ALS disease process and how genes influence the clinical features of the disease.

Efforts will involve a combination of next-generation genetic sequencing and detailed clinical phenotyping in 1,500 people with ALS, with the goal being to provide a basis for the development of individually tailored therapies.

Furthermore, it is hoped that this work will lay the groundwork for the genomic characterisation of all patients with ALS in the US.

Tim Harris, senior vice-president for precision medicine at Biogen, said: "This study will help in developing a detailed understanding of how different genes contribute to different clinical forms of ALS. This will in turn help us design better, more focused clinical trials for the development of more effective treatments."

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects neurons in the brain and the spinal cord. It can lead to total paralysis or death within two to five years of diagnosis.