Lille, France – Researchers at the University of Lille Hospital and the University of Lille have received €8.4 million over five years through France’s Plan France 2030 to explore a novel therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Charcot’s disease. The research, led by neurologist David Devos and his team, focuses on utilizing platelet-derived therapies to potentially extend the lifespan of patients diagnosed with the debilitating neurodegenerative condition.
Currently, the average life expectancy for individuals with ALS is three to five years after the onset of symptoms. Existing treatments, such as riluzole, offer only a marginal extension of life – approximately three months – a benefit Devos describes as “insignificant when you have three years to live.” The team’s approach involves injecting derivatives from blood platelets, stripped of their external membrane and sourced from healthy donors, directly into the brains of patients. These platelet components release neurotrophic factors, substances believed to promote the growth and survival of neurons.
The research builds on previous work identifying the challenges of delivering dopamine to the brain, a problem also encountered in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Devos and colleague Caroline Moreau have also pioneered a treatment for Parkinson’s involving the administration of anaerobic dopamine, delivered via a surgically implanted dosing pump. This experience with targeted brain delivery informed the ALS research.
The platelet therapy aims to slow the destruction of motor neurons, which are crucial for muscle control. Preclinical results, presented at a recent conference dedicated to ALS research, suggest a significant potential for extending patient lifespan. The team’s work is focused on understanding and addressing the underlying mechanisms of the disease, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective treatments.
The project is part of a broader effort to improve the care and treatment of ALS patients in France, where approximately 1,600 new cases are diagnosed annually, and three people die from the disease each day. Further research and clinical trials are planned to assess the safety and efficacy of the platelet-derived therapy in a larger patient population. The team is currently working to refine the delivery method and optimize the dosage of the treatment.
