CIRM awards AcuraStem $7.5M first-in-human trials of ALS treatment addressing neural dysfunction

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has awarded $7.5 million to AcuraStem in Pasadena, California, to advance first-in-human trials for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. The funding supports a therapy that targets TDP-43 neural dysfunction, aiming to restore synaptic function. TDP-43 pathology is present in most ALS cases and many FTD patients, making this a broadly applicable disease-modifying strategy. Preclinical data has shown restored and improved neuronal signaling. The funding advances AcuraStem toward Phase 1 testing, with the goal of expanding options for ALS and FTD patients.