A surprise finding by two independent research teams and a venture capital mega-round have birthed a biotech looking to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with a new strategy.
Trace Neurosciences launched on Tuesday to announce that it is developing a genetic treatment targeting UNC13A, a gene linked to both a higher risk of ALS and faster disease progression. While companies developing ALS therapies have struggled over the past year, Trace’s leaders told STAT they believe their therapy has the potential to treat the vast majority of ALS patients — as well as those with other brain disorders, such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The South San Francisco biotech expects to begin testing its lead drug candidate in clinical trials by early 2026.
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