Oral levosimendan in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a phase II multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

What is it about?

There is an urgent need for new effective therapies to support the respiratory function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a rare neurodegenerative disease typically resulting in death due to respiratory failure within three to four years of diagnosis. The results of this clinical trial suggest that oral levosimendan could improve respiratory function in patients with ALS. Although the primary endpoint of sitting slow vital capacity (SVC) was not met, significant and dose-dependent treatment effects between levosimendan and placebo were seen in SVC measured in supine position in 66 patients with ALS.

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