ALS Untangled advises against rituximab for ALS treatment
Original source
Rituximab (opens in a new tab)ALS Untangled reviewed rituximab, a drug that depletes B lymphocytes, as a possible treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The review found no evidence supporting a role for these cells in ALS progression and reported no benefit in the one patient identified as having used rituximab for ALS. Because of the drug’s serious known risks, the review advises against its use for ALS treatment.
Why this matters
This advises people with ALS and clinicians not to use rituximab as an ALS treatment based on the evidence reviewed. It does not show that rituximab benefits people with ALS or establish a role for B-cell depletion in treatment.
Limitations and context
This is an independent expert review, not a clinical trial. The review found only one reported patient who used rituximab for ALS, so it cannot determine the drug’s effectiveness. Its conclusions are limited by the lack of evidence identified in the review.