CervoMed’s neflamapimod elected for inclusion in UK EXPERTS-ALS platform designed to prioritize promising treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Core Viewpoint - CervoMed Inc. has announced that its investigational drug neflamapimod has been included in the EXPERTS-ALS platform for rapid testing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with the first patient expected to be dosed by the end of 2026 [1][4] Group 1: Neflamapimod and Its Mechanism - Neflamapimod is an oral small molecule drug candidate that targets critical disease processes underlying neurodegenerative disorders by selectively inhibiting p38 MAP kinase, a key driver of neuroinflammation [6][11] - The drug has shown positive clinical activity in dementia with Lewy bodies, demonstrating a potent effect on blood biomarkers of neurodegeneration [3][8] - Neflamapimod is currently in clinical development for multiple indications, including dementia with Lewy bodies, recovery after ischemic stroke, and primary progressive aphasia [7][11] Group 2: EXPERTS-ALS Platform - EXPERTS-ALS is a UK-based platform designed to rapidly evaluate potential therapies for ALS through a randomized, multicenter trial that measures neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels, which correlate with disease progression [2][9] - The initial evaluation of neflamapimod will involve approximately 35 ALS participants over 18-24 weeks, with the potential to expand to a total of 80 patients [2] - The platform is funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research and supported by various motor neuron disease charities [2][9] Group 3: Clinical Trial Insights - Previous clinical trials of neflamapimod have involved over 800 participants, showing it to be generally well tolerated and effective in improving dementia severity and functional mobility in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies [8] - The Phase 2a AscenD-LB trial and Phase 2b RewinD-LB trial provided evidence of neflamapimod's potential clinical benefits, particularly in patients without Alzheimer's disease co-pathology [8] Group 4: ALS Overview - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting approximately 168,000 people worldwide, with no approved therapies to stop or reverse its progression [5]