Innovative therapies under clinical development for ALS treatment. Part 2: biologics and natural products.
TL;DR
This review provides a structured overview of biologics and natural products in the ALS clinical pipeline, with particular emphasis on candidates that entered, advanced through, or completed clinical evaluation between 2022 and the end of 2025.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The clinical trial landscape for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is rapidly expanding despite ongoing translational challenges. Following our 2022 analysis and as a continuation of Part 1, which focused on small molecules, this review provides a structured overview of biologics and natural products in the ALS clinical pipeline. Particular emphasis is placed on candidates that entered, advanced through, or completed clinical evaluation between 2022 and the end of 2025. AREAS COVERED Clinical trials for ALS registered in the United States (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the European Union (EU Clinical Trials Register/CTIS) were systematically reviewed and are summarized in this report. EXPERT OPINION Modern biotechnology, ethnopharmacology, and classical pharmacology are increasingly converging in ALS therapeutic development, making this one of the most active areas of neurodegenerative disease research. Nevertheless, major challenges remain, including central nervous system (CNS) penetration, long-term safety, interpatient variability, limited clinical evidence, and the need for reliable biomarkers. Emerging technologies, such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence, may help accelerate and optimize therapeutic development, as well as improve patient recruitment and stratification.