FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Richmond, BC – March 20, 2026 – The ALS Society of British Columbia (ALSBC) in partnership with and support of the University of British Columbia (UBC) ALS & Related Disorders (ALSRD) Research Program is proud to announce the formal return of ALS clinical trials to British Columbia after nearly 15 years.
Under the leadership of Dr. Erik Pioro, research staff training and site initiation preparations have recently been completed, and the Phase 2 trial C302-CLN-2301 ALSTARS study testing the COYA 302 study drug is now actively recruiting candidates at the UBC ALSRD Clinic location. This clinical trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre, 24-week study with additional 24-week blinded active extension to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COYA 302 for the treatment of ALS.
ALS Society of BC Professor and Chair of ALS Research,
Department of Medicine (Neurology), UBC
“It’s a momentous day for the ALS community in British Columbia”, says Donald Miyazaki, Executive Director of the ALS Society of BC. “ALSBC Project Hope started with a mission of bringing clinical trials to our research program’s new home at UBC so patients can once again contribute to research in their own backyards. Through our partnership with the Province of British Columbia, UBC, and thousands and patients, caregivers, families, and donors who have made this dream possible, we thank you for helping us achieve this milestone. This is another step towards our vision of living in a world without ALS”.
The ALSTARS trial will be conducted at approximately 20-25 sites in Canada and the United States and will evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational treatment for adults with ALS.
COYA 302 is an investigational and proprietary biologic combination therapy with a dual immunomodulatory mechanism of action intended to enhance the anti-inflammatory function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppress the inflammation produced by activated monocytes and macrophages. It is comprised of low dose interleukin-2 (LD IL-2) and DRL_AB (a biosimilar candidate for abatacept). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of two regimens of COYA 302 or placebo (an inactive substance) for 24-weeks in the double-blind (DB) period. Those who complete this part of the study may be eligible to receive one of the two regimens of COYA 302 for an additional 24 weeks in a blinded active extension phase (EXT).
The study will assess changes in disease progression using established ALS clinical outcome measures, including the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), neurofilament (NfL), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), slow vital capacity (SVC), and neurological assessments. Additional objectives include evaluation of biomarkers and safety through routine clinical assessments and adverse event monitoring.
“These trials represent far more than individual studies”, says Dr. Pioro. “They offer renewed hope to patients and families who have long had to travel outside the province for experimental therapies”. The ALSRD Research Program is located at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH) on UBC’s Point Grey campus. Interested candidates wishing to participate may contact the primary study coordinator at [email protected] or 604-827-2311.
Background details and information about the study can be found on Coya Therapeutics website by clicking here. For additional information such as study overview and eligibility criteria, please visit the National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov website by clicking here.
As emerging details and opportunities becomes available, we encourage you to visit ALSBC Project Hope’s website – www.projecthopealsbc.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Navin Autar, Communications and Marketing Coordinator
ALS Society of British Columbia
Phone: 1-800-708-3228 Ext. 231
Email: [email protected]
About the ALS Society of BC: ALS BC was founded in 1981 by Dr. Andrew Eisen, ALS patients and family members to meet the physical and emotional needs of people living with ALS and their caregivers. Our mission is to cure ALS through funding research, while advocating for and supporting people living with ALS.