P2X7 receptor antagonism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive disorder characterized by the degeneration and subsequent loss of upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in reduced muscle function and paralysis (Mathis et al., 2017). Current therapies are limited to the oral administration of riluzole, which improves survival by only 3 months (Mathis et al., 2017). Thus, new therapies are urgently required to treat this neurodegenerative disorder.