A number of ALS Clinical Trials are currently being conducted in sites across Canada.
ALS clinical trials are essential in advancing knowledge about the disease by determining the safety and efficacy of potential therapies and improving care and quality of life for people living with ALS.
Clinical trials are research studies that involve human volunteers to test new therapies. After scientists test experimental therapies in the laboratory, those with promising results are moved towards clinical trials to ultimately determine whether the therapy is safe and effective for use in humans. The process of taking a treatment from lab to clinical trial involves many steps and may take several years.
Any new treatment typically must pass through a series of phases designed to prove safety, tolerability, and efficacy before it can be considered for approval by Health Canada and made available to the Canadian public.
Clinical trials testing potential new drugs or other treatments with the goal of slowing the progression of the disease, or managing symptoms, are called interventional trials.
Observational studies do not actively investigate a potential therapeutic but are often considered a form of clinical trial. In these studies, researchers study and collect information from participants living with ALS with the goal of learning more about the disease so that we can more effectively diagnose and treat it. An example of an observational study in Canada is CAPTURE-ALS.
In many cases people who participate in clinical trials will not benefit from the therapy, but their generous involvement will help to find a successful therapy for those diagnosed in the future. One day, a clinical trial will test a therapeutic that slows the progression of ALS, and those involved may directly benefit from taking part.
Most ALS clinical trials are run at specialized ALS clinics (CALS clinics). Resources provided in this page can be used to locate clinical trial sites in Canada and internationally.
To participate, individuals should ask their ALS clinician for information on any available trials they may be eligible for. If someone wishes to participate in a trial that is not offered at their clinic, they can ask their clinician to refer them to another clinic with a trial of interest or contact the clinic hosting the trial directly to request more information and eligibility criteria. It is important to note that many trials do not cover travel expenses for participants, which should be considered when travelling for a trial.
Only trust credible sources for referencing information about ALS clinical trials.
Find additional information at:
Speak with your clinician (preferably at a CALS clinic), as they can discuss your trial participation and eligibility.
Visit ClinicalTrials.gov where all legitimate, recognized ALS clinical trials are registered globally.
In this webinar series, join ALS Canada to learn more about ongoing ALS clinical trials and hear directly from pharmaceutical companies.
Join ALS Canada in this monthly virtual series designed for people living with ALS, their families, caregivers, and anyone close to someone living with the disease who might have questions about ALS research and/or clinical trials.
For inquiries about clinical trials in Canada and globally, you can also contact the ALS Canada Research Team.
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