Pathophysiology of ion channels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Table 2 Drugs targeting ion channels currently in use or in trials for ALS

Drug	Target	Effect	Stage	References
Riluzole	Na⁺ channels	Reduces persistent Na⁺ current	In use	[30]
	K⁺ channels	Activates channels and inhibits slow inactivation of voltage-gated K⁺ current		[143, 144]
	Ca²⁺ channels	Inhibits persistent and transient Ca²⁺ currents		[9, 40, 145, 146]
Gabapentin	Voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels	Inhibits channel expression	Phase III	[151]
Pimozide	T-type Ca²⁺ channels	Inhibits Ca²⁺ currents	Phase II	[154]
FPL 64176	L-type Ca²⁺ channels	Activates channels	Preliminary testing	[155]
Bay K 8644	L-type Ca²⁺ channels	Activates channels	Preliminary testing	[155]
Mexiletine	Na⁺ channels	Inhibits persistent Na⁺ current	Phase IV	[156]
Ezogabine	K⁺ channels	Activates channels	Phase II	[161, 162]
QRL-101	K⁺ channels	Activates channels	Phase I	[163]
4AP	K⁺ channels	Inhibits K⁺ currents	Preliminary testing	[120]

ISSN: 1756-6606