AMA Morning Rounds: Early data for ALS drug candidate shows improved muscle function

The AP (12/10) reports, "Sangamo Biosciences Inc. said Wednesday that early data from a clinical trial shows its Lou Gehrig's disease drug candidate," SB-509, "improved patients' muscle function." Patients injected with the drug "were about twice as likely to have improved muscular function," according to Sangamo. Specifically, "32 percent of patients who received SB-509 had improved muscle function, compared to 17 percent of patients who took standard treatments." The company "is also testing SB-509 as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy."