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Biogen reported disappointing results Sunday from a late-stage clinical trial involving its experimental treatment for a rare, genetically defined form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

In the Phase 3 study, the Biogen drug called tofersen failed to slow the neurologic and functional decline of ALS patients compared to a placebo. The drug showed some improvements on other measures of disease progression, the company said, although interpreting those secondary results is challenging because the study’s main goal was not met.

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Tofersen targets an inherited form of ALS that is diagnosed in approximately 100 patients each year — just 2% of the overall diagnoses. Still, the negative study results are another unfortunate setback for the broader ALS patient community. ALS is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that has proven acutely resistant to effective treatments.

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