Iowa Woman Receives First Dosage of Drug That Could Stop ALS

Life hasn't been fair to Jaci Hermstad of Spencer, Iowa. Eight years ago, her identical twin sister Alex died from A.L.S. (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often called Lou Gehrig's disease). She was just 17 years old. Jaci was diagnosed with the same disease on February 14, 2019, the eight-year anniversary of Alex's death. Today, Jaci and her family have great hope thanks to a new drug approved by the FDA.

Today in New York City, four different doctors gave Jaci a spinal infusion of Antisense Oligonucleotide (ASO). It's the first of three infusions she'll receive of the drug made especially for her, as she fights an aggressive form of the A.L.S. KTIV says the next infusion is scheduled in approximately two weeks as testing of the drug continues.

Doctors, and everyone that knows and loves Jaci hope the treatment will not only stop the awful effects of the disease but perhaps even reverse them. It would also give hope to the approximately 16,000 people across the country currently battling the disease.