About TRICALS

In recent years it has become clear that ALS is not a self-contained disease, but a collection of subtype diseases that all lead to the same symptoms. A specific therapy may need to be developed and tested for each subtype. In addition to that it has become clear that - in view of the complexity of the disease - international cooperation is necessary.

The ALS Center Netherlands has comprehensive experience with the set up and the conducting of trials at ALS. We know that most people with ALS would like to participate in clinical studies in the hope that this will benefit themselves or future patients. However, currently only 2% of all patients with ALS can participate in therapy trials. This must change. That is the reason why the ALS Center in the Netherlands, together with ALS centers from Ireland, England, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Australia, has recently launched a new and unique initiative: the "Treatment Research Initiative to Cure ALS (TRICALS)". The goal is simple but ambitious: Give every ALS patient the opportunity to participate in high-quality therapy trials that increase our knowledge of the disease and identify better, more effective treatments for ALS.

TRICALS will introduce innovative methods to conduct trials (TRICALS Reactive), so that the burden and number of people on placebo stays as low as possible. TRICALS will also improve the so-called “trial readiness” for ALS by setting up an efficient and effective infrastructure in order to increase the number of ALS trials. Moreover, TRICALS will establish a beneficial treatment effect for people with ALS in such a way that it is recognized by bodies such as the EMA and FDA. Finally, trials will be conducted, starting with three promising medicines: Edaravone, Lithium and Triumeq.

Click here for the TRICALS website.