New research commissioned by Challenge Works and conducted by the Office of Health Economics (OHE) suggests that a successful treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could be worth billions, both economically and socially.

The analysis found that an effective therapy could deliver a 10-year value of up to $143 billion across seven key markets – the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany and France. In the US alone, the commercial value of a treatment could reach $26–40 billion, while in the UK it is estimated at $1.7 billion, and between $1.1–4 billion in other high-income countries.

ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND), is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. As the disease advances, it affects the ability to move, swallow and breathe, leading to significant loss of independence and premature death. Around 90% of MND cases are ALS.

Despite its devastating impact, therapeutic progress has been slow. The disease imposes a high socioeconomic burden, with an estimated $178 million (£133 million) spent on medical management in the UK and $2.5 billion in the US each year. When societal costs such as caregiving and lost productivity are included, the total rises to roughly three times that amount.

Research into ALS is now entering a more dynamic phase, driven by a better understanding of disease biology, improved access to large-scale datasets and the rise of AI and in-silico tools that accelerate target discovery.

To catalyse progress, the Longitude Prize on ALS was launched in June 2025. The £7.5 million global challenge, funded by the Motor Neurone Disease Association and delivered by Challenge Works, is designed to incentivise new AI-based approaches to drug discovery for ALS.

Tris Dyson, managing director at Challenge Works, said: “For too long, ALS has been an area of high risk and low investment, but things are changing. Advances in AI, combined with better understanding of the disease and higher volumes of patient data, mean that we find ourselves at a turning point for uncovering potential new treatment pathways. OHE’s research quantifies the significant value this would bring to individuals and societies, and we hope the Longitude Prize on ALS will mark a step towards discovering new treatments, and edge us ever closer to a cure.”

Amanda Cole, director at OHE, added: “The burden of ALS is particularly stark when expressed in terms of quality-adjusted life years lost. In the UK, an individual diagnosed with ALS may lose around 12.6 QALYs over their lifetime. The value of an effective treatment would be significant, and lifechanging for those living with the disease.”

Vishal Gulati, founder and managing partner of Recode Ventures and a Longitude Prize on ALS judge, said: “ALS offers biopharmaceutical companies strategic convergence where urgent unmet need meets compelling commercial opportunity. Investing here makes strategic sense: rapid disease progression enables shorter, more cost-effective trials, and orphan status accelerates regulatory approval. Crucially, ALS also acts as a proof-of-concept for technologies that could be applied to other neurodegenerative diseases.”

The Longitude Prize on ALS is open to innovators in medical research, biotech, techbio, pharmaceuticals and AI. Teams will be assessed on their ability to identify and validate drug targets and translate discoveries into therapeutic development. The competition remains open for entries until 3 December 2025.