A 600-person trial of intravenous ceftriaxone in ALS is still looking for participants at 53 North American sites
A 600-person trial of intravenous ceftriaxone, an antibiotic in the cephalosporin family that's approved to treat certain types of infections, is still looking for participants at 53 sites in the United States and Canada.
About the trial
Laboratory studies have suggested that ceftriaxone protects motor neurons (the cells that die in ALS) from injury.
To be included in the study, participants must:
have had ALS symptoms for no more than three years;
have a vital capacity (breathing measurement) of at least 60 percent of normal; and have someone available to help administer study medication twice a day.
Participants must not be pregnant, allergic to penicillin or other antibiotics of the same type as ceftriaxone, or have a history of a neurological disorder other than ALS.
U.S. study sites are located in
Arizona; California; Colorado;
Connecticut; Washington, D.C.;
Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana;
Kansas; Kentucky;
Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri;
Nebraska; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina;
Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania;
Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; and Virginia.
Canadian study sites are in Ontario and Quebec.
For more information:
Contact Sarah Titus, assistant project manager, Neurological Clinical Trials Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, at
(617) 726-1398 or stitus@... [1].
For details and contact information for all participating sites, see the Northeast ALS Consortium-Ceftriaxone [2].
Ceftriaxone is being studied in ALS, following laboratory studies suggesting it may protect motor neurons from injury.
The drug, an antibiotic in the cephalosporin family, is administered intravenously.
Many study sites remain open.
Margaret Wahl
53 North American sites -
Posted by Sophie1234 (Member # 26412) on :
Ok, praise God for this......but will two and two ever be put together? I really, really hope and pray something GREAT comes out of this.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
If they don't put it together its because they don't want to.
Posted by scoobie (Member # 26226) on :
I was diagnosed with ALS several months ago. My life has been turned upside down. Five weeks ago I tested positive for Lyme disease. I'm being treated with IV Ceftriaxone and other oral antibiotics by an LLMD. I don't know what to think...I struggle 24/7. I am going to fight this! I keep telling myself that I'm going to win...it is difficult. Does anyone know what happened to Californialyme? She was an active member on this website but hasn't posted a message in several years. She was diagnosed with ALS and found out she had Lyme disease. Does anyone else know of similar stories and if there is someone who might be a good support for me? I need help...
Posted by scoobie (Member # 26226) on :
I was diagnosed with ALS several months ago. My life has been turned upside down. Five weeks ago I tested positive for Lyme disease. I'm being treated with IV Ceftriaxone and other oral antibiotics by an LLMD. I don't know what to think...I struggle 24/7. I am going to fight this! I keep telling myself that I'm going to win...it is difficult. Does anyone know what happened to Californialyme? She was an active member on this website but hasn't posted a message in several years. She was diagnosed with ALS and found out she had Lyme disease. Does anyone else know of similar stories and if there is someone who might be a good support for me? I need help...
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :