Network Meta-Analysis of ALS Therapies: Efficacy and Safety from 109 Trials

Shixun Zhou's network meta-analysis, uploaded to figshare in April 2026, systematically compares pharmacological and biological therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The dataset includes results from 109 randomized controlled trials involving 16,353 participants, with efficacy measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and safety by serious adverse events.

Use Cases

• Ranking therapeutic interventions for ALS based on efficacy and safety metrics described in the analysis
• Comparing outcomes like functional decline (ALSFRS-R) and mortality across different drug classes
• Identifying promising agent combinations, such as cell therapy with neuroprotective agents, for further clinical investigation
• Assessing heterogeneity within drug classes, such as enzyme inhibitors, to guide trial design

Strengths

• Analysis is based on 109 randomized controlled trials, providing a substantial evidence base
• Includes data from 16,353 participants, offering a large sample size for meta-analysis
• Employs a Bayesian network meta-analysis methodology for comparative effectiveness ranking
• Has a clear primary outcome (ALSFRS-R) and secondary outcomes (FVC, mortality, SAEs) as described

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• The dataset is a 124.5 KB DOCX file, indicating a limited scope likely containing summary tables rather than raw trial data

Provenance

Source

figshare

Collection Method

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials.

Time Range

Trials were searched until February 25, 2025.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-24 13:39:36; freshness should be verified

Geography

Global (trials sourced from international databases).