• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations

  • Members' Login
  • Contact
  • Join the Alliance
  • Donate
  • What is ALS/MND
  • Find a Member Association
  • Support for PALS & CALS
    • Fundamental Rights for People with ALS/MND and Caregivers
    • Research
      • Voice Preservation
      • Open Science
      • Expanded Access
      • Understanding ALS/MND Research
      • Improving Regulatory Pathways
      • Right to Try
      • US FDA Orphan Drug Designation
      • Unproven (Off-Label) Treatments
      • Open Label Extension
    • Advocacy
      • Advocacy Toolkit
      • Emergency Preparedness Toolkit
      • Equitable Access to Therapies
      • Recommendations for Trial Sponsors
    • Clinical Care
      • Genetic Counselling & Testing
      • Mental Health Support
      • Nursing and Symptom Management
      • Nutrition and Swallowing
      • Occupational Therapy and Activities of Daily Living
      • Physiotherapy and Mobility
      • Respiratory Care
      • Speech Therapy and Communication
      • Support for Family & Caregivers
      • Technology
      • Global Clinic Locator
    • Drugs in Development
      • AB Science – Masitinib
      • BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics – NurOwn
      • Clene Nanomedicine – CNM-Au8
      • Collaborative Medicinal Development – CuATSM
      • ILB – Tikomed
      • Kadimastem – AstroRx
      • Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America – Oral Edaravone
      • Neuronata-R/Lenzumestrocel
      • NeuroSense – PrimeC
      • Neuvivo – NP001
      • Prilenia Therapeutics – Pridopidine
      • T Regulatory Cell Therapies
      • SOD1 Therapies & Trials
    • Approved Drugs
      • Nuedexta
      • Radicava/Edaravone
      • Riluzole/Tiglutik
      • Rozebalamin/Methylcobalamin
      • Tofersen/Qalsody
    • Drugs No Longer in Development
      • Amylyx – AMX0035
      • Collaborative Medicinal Development – CuATSM
      • Cytokinetics – Reldesemtiv
      • Orphazyme – Arimoclomol
      • TUDCA Trial
  • Support for Health Professionals
    • Breaking the News in ALS/MND
    • Diagnostic Delay (in development)
  • Events/Programs
    • Calendar of Events/Programs
    • Alliance Meeting
    • Allied Professionals Forum
    • Alliance Webinars
    • ALS/MND Connect
    • Global Day Calendar
    • March of Faces
    • Patient Fellows Program
    • Global CRLI
    • International Symposium
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • ALS/MND Health Literacy Map
    • Board of Trustees
    • Advisory Councils/Committees
      • Scientific Advisory Council
      • PALS and CALS Advisory Council
      • Innovation and Technology Council
      • Advocacy and Public Policy Forum
      • Research Directors Forum
      • Governance Committee
      • Finance Committee
    • Staff
    • History
    • Archives
      • Newsletters
      • Meetings
    • Awards
      • Forbes Norris Award
      • Humanitarian Award
      • Allied Health Professional Award
      • Student Innovation Award
  • Members
    • Member Registration
    • Forgot Password

TUDCA Trial

Background

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is an acid present in the bile regularly produced in the human liver. TUDCA is commonly used for treatment of chronic liver conditions and for gallstone and it is thought to have a beneficial effect on mitochondria health (ref: Hoffman 1999). TUDCA has also been described as a protective agent for cellular cell death, and therefore, considered for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (ref: Amaral et al., 2009).

Trial Design & Results

A phase 2b proof of concept double blind placebo-controlled study was run in Italy from 2008 to 2012 on 34 individuals affected by ALS/MND. The trial enrolled earlystage non severely disabled individuals who were treated with 1g twice daily of TUDCA or placebo for 54 weeks and examined every 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the portion of responder individuals, defined as those showing an improvement of at least 15% in the ALS functional rating scale revised (ALSFRS-R) slope during treatment period compared to the lead in period (the stage before the start of the trial). The study reported that TUDCA was well tolerated, and that the portion of responders was higher in the TUDCA treated group compared to placebo, resulting in slower progression in the TUDCA treated group (ref: Elia et al., 2015). However, this study was conducted on a relatively small number of individuals and a phase 3 was necessary to confirm TUDCA efficacy in slowing disease progression.

On the basis of the results of the phase 2b study, a larger multi center phase 3 placebo-controlled trial was designed using the same dosage of TUDCA and placebo. The trial aimed to recruit 440 people newly diagnosed with ALS in 26 centers across Italy, Germany, UK, France, the Netherlands and Ireland. The delivery of the trial was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and recruitment was less than planned. The results from this trial were released in March 2024, the study ran for 18 months including a total of 336 people but failed to meet its primary endpoint, which was defined as a difference in responding and nonresponding individuals in month 18 as measured by ALSFRS-R. Additionally, no difference was found between TUDCA and placebo in secondary outcome measures including time of survival and biomarker measurements. Treatment with TUDCA was well tolerated and generally safe (ref: TUDCA-ALS).

TUDCA is also one of the two components of AMX0035, a compound developed by Amylyx Pharmaceuticals that was recently announced to have not met either primary or secondary endpoints in a phase 3 clinical trial (ref: Amylyx press release).

Summary

Considering the available evidence, it is the opinion of the SAC that TUDCA is safe and tolerable. Given the available data, however, it is the opinion of the SAC that there is enough evidence to conclude that at the studied dosage, TUDCA did not show overall benefit in individuals living with ALS.

International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations
September 2024


The original language of communication is English and any translation cannot be guaranteed for accuracy of messaging.

SOURCES

  • Hoffman 1999 – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1105662
  • Amaral et al., 2009 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227520307252?pes=vor
  • Elia et al., 2015 – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.12664
  • TUDCA-ALS – https://www.tudca.eu/top-line-results-announcement/
  • Amylyx press release – https://www.amylyx.com/news/amylyx-pharmaceuticalsannounces-topline-results-from-global-phase-3-phoenix-trial-of-amx0035-in-als

Primary Sidebar

  • Mike Rannie,  ALS Canada,  Diagnosed 2017

    Mike Rannie, ALS Canada, Diagnosed 2017

  • Josée Kolijn-de Man, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Patients Connected, The Netherlands

    Josée Kolijn-de Man, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Patients Connected, The Netherlands

  • Art Eggert, USA

    Art Eggert, USA

  • JP

    JP

  • Dawn Morton, Diagnosed 2014 , MND Scotland, UK

    Dawn Morton, Diagnosed 2014 , MND Scotland, UK

  • Bruno Leanza Mantegna, Diagnosed 1999 , AISLA Onlus, Italy

    Bruno Leanza Mantegna, Diagnosed 1999 , AISLA Onlus, Italy

  • Jeff Sutherland

    Jeff Sutherland
    jspic

  • Yolanda Armendariz, Diagnosed 2017 , FYADENMAC, Mexico

    Yolanda Armendariz, Diagnosed 2017 , FYADENMAC, Mexico

  • unnamed

    unnamed

  • Feng Gin Sun, Diagnosed 2014 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

    Feng Gin Sun, Diagnosed 2014 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

  • Paul Launer, USA

    Paul Launer, USA

  • Antonio Ventriglia,  ALS Liga Belgium,  Diagnosed 2013

    Antonio Ventriglia, ALS Liga Belgium, Diagnosed 2013

  • Dad

    Dad

  • Dorette Lüdi, Diagnosed 2014 , ALS Schweiz, Switzerland

    Dorette Lüdi, Diagnosed 2014 , ALS Schweiz, Switzerland

  • Christian Bär, Germany

    Christian Bär, Germany

  • Fernando Ocampo Cardona, Colombia

    Fernando Ocampo Cardona, Colombia

  • Liz Ogg, Diagnosed 2013 , MND Scotland, UK

    Liz Ogg, Diagnosed 2013 , MND Scotland, UK

  • Philip Brindle,  MND Association,  Diagnosed 2015,  England

    Philip Brindle, MND Association, Diagnosed 2015, England

  • Maurice Leclerc, Canada

    Maurice Leclerc, Canada

  • Laurie Petit-Jean, Diagnosed 2012 , ARSLA, France

    Laurie Petit-Jean, Diagnosed 2012 , ARSLA, France

  • Hanne Stenmose, Muskelsvindfonden, Denmark

    Hanne Stenmose, Muskelsvindfonden, Denmark

  • Sally Pauls, Diagnosed 2006 , Les Turner ALS Foundation

    Sally Pauls, Diagnosed 2006 , Les Turner ALS Foundation

  • Stephanie Christiansen Hall, Canada

    Stephanie Christiansen Hall, Canada

  • Duncan Bayly , MND Australia

    Duncan Bayly , MND Australia

  • Colm Francis Davis, Ireland

    Colm Francis Davis, Ireland

  • Ali Var, Turkey

    Ali Var, Turkey

  • Brian Lovell, Diagnosed 2011 . MND Australia

    Brian Lovell, Diagnosed 2011 . MND Australia

  • Inta Grubb, Diagnosed 2014,  MND Australia

    Inta Grubb, Diagnosed 2014, MND Australia

  • Ian and Teresa Roberts

    Ian and Teresa Roberts

  • Irene McCaughey, Diagnosed 2011,  MND Australia

    Irene McCaughey, Diagnosed 2011, MND Australia

  • Marcelo Farinelli, Diagnosed 2006, ABrELA, Brazil

    Marcelo Farinelli, Diagnosed 2006, ABrELA, Brazil

  • Peng Yi-Wen

    Peng Yi-Wen

  • John Dinon, MND Australia

    John Dinon, MND Australia

  • Calum Ferguson, Diagnosed 2010 , MND Scotland, UK

    Calum Ferguson, Diagnosed 2010 , MND Scotland, UK

  • Olga Cosentino, Diagnosed 2013,  Asociación ELA Argentina

    Olga Cosentino, Diagnosed 2013, Asociación ELA Argentina

  • Amparo Muriel Engativa, Colombia

    Amparo Muriel Engativa, Colombia

  • Karl Hughes, Diagnosed 2010 , IMNDA,  Ireland

    Karl Hughes, Diagnosed 2010 , IMNDA, Ireland

  • Frank "Papa" Taylor, USA

    Frank “Papa” Taylor, USA

  • Alfredo Santos, Diagnosed 2013 , ACELA, Colombia

    Alfredo Santos, Diagnosed 2013 , ACELA, Colombia

  • Lachlan Terry,  MND Australia,  Diagnosed 2015

    Lachlan Terry, MND Australia, Diagnosed 2015

  • Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 - Prize4Life, Israel

    Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 – Prize4Life, Israel

  • Chih Ching Darren Wong, MND Malaysia

    Chih Ching Darren Wong, MND Malaysia

  • Chris McCauley, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Canada

    Chris McCauley, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Canada

  • Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 , Prize4Life, Israel

    Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 , Prize4Life, Israel

  • Bjarne Hytjanstorp, ALS Norge, Norway

    Bjarne Hytjanstorp, ALS Norge, Norway

  • Len Johnrose,  MND Association,  Diagnosed 2017,  England

    Len Johnrose, MND Association, Diagnosed 2017, England

  • Xian-Zhang Niu, Diagnosed 2006 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

    Xian-Zhang Niu, Diagnosed 2006 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

  • Timothy Holman, Switzerland

    Timothy Holman, Switzerland

  • Nicholas (Nic) Bowman, MND Association of South Africa,  Diagnosed 2016,  Australia

    Nicholas (Nic) Bowman, MND Association of South Africa, Diagnosed 2016, Australia

  • Catherine Pearce, Australia

    Catherine Pearce, Australia

Learn more about the March of Faces

Latest Tweets

  • Just now

Drugs No Longer in Development

  • Amylyx – AMX0035
  • Collaborative Medicinal Development – CuATSM
  • Cytokinetics – Reldesemtiv
  • Orphazyme – Arimoclomol
  • TUDCA Trial

Footer

Subscribe to our Bi-Monthly Newsletter

Sign up to receive updates and to hear what's going on in the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations.

"*" indicates required fields

 
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Return to top of page

Contact | Disclaimer | Privacy Notice & Cookies | Sitemap

Copyright © 2025 The International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations. All rights reserved.


Registered in England: Charity Number 1079504 · Site built by graphics.coop · Powered by WordPress · Members' login