The first participants have been enrolled in the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial at Massachusetts General Hospital, testing three proposed drug regimens: Zilucoplan, Verdiperstat, and CNM-Au8 nanocrystalline gold. Read the full release from The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS Research at Mass General here.

The platform trial is based on a model that has been successful in cancer research and allows researchers to test multiple treatments at the same time. The ALS Association contributed $3 million to help launch the project.

“By testing multiple drugs at the same time, this platform trial will dramatically speed our search for effective ALS treatments for everyone living with ALS. The ALS Association is proud to be supporting this effort, and we are grateful to the Healey Center for their leadership,” said Calaneet Balas, President and CEO of The ALS Association.

There are currently five trial sites located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, and Florida, with plans to open 54 platform sites on a rolling basis.