Statement on Riluzole

Riluzole (Rilutek ®) is the only FDA approved medication for the treatment of ALS. Several large clinical trials showed that groups of patients on riluzole consistently lived longer and had a slower progression of disease than comparable groups of patients not taking riluzole. Whether riluzole will work to slow disease progression in any individual is unknown, however, no other drug has been shown to be effective for patients with ALS.