THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES - RILUZOLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF MOTOR-NEURON DISEASE

Amyotrophic laterial sclerosis is a fatal neurogenerative disorder, fo r which only symptomatic treatment was previously available. Riluzole was recently launched in the U.S.A. and Europe. This is the first drug to produce a modest increase in survival (approximate to 3 months) in patients with this disease. Unfortunately, treatment causes a number of side-effects of which asthenia is particularly troublesome. Between 10 and 20 per cent of patients can be expected to withdraw from treat ment due to these adverse effects. Data on the real time survival adva ntage and quality of life that can be expected whilst on treatment are needed to identify the place of riluzole in the management of this di stressing disease.