Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Animal Models & CRO Services

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in generalized muscle weakness and atrophy, and, usually, death within a few years. In the U.S., approximately 10,000 patients are newly diagnosed with ALS each year. The disease strikes men and women of all ages.

Although in most cases, the cause of ALS is unclear (sporadic), about 10% of cases cluster within families (familial ALS, fALS). The causative mutant genes in many of these families have been identified, and one of the most common is a mutation in the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) gene. When this gene is inserted into transgenic mice, the mice develop a muscle wasting disease that is very similar to human ALS.

Biotrofix has considerable experience in the use of this transgenic mouse model to test possible new treatments for both sporadic and familial ALS. This transgenic mouse strain also serves as a general model of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodegenerative treatments. Endpoints are animal survival, behavior, and histology.

Download AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) DISEASE MODEL (.pdf)