Rubik's ALS Puzzle

Headline:
An experimental drug may help some patients with ALS - live longer.

Of course the keyword here is, 'May'. Scientists have found Sod1, Rac1, Nox2, Ros and who knows what else. So it goes on and on, little four letter parts of a puzzle that are not complete.

Twelve years later another set back; (Rilutek FDA approved 1995)
The research failed to replicate several studies in the SOD1 mouse model that have led to clinical trials of drugs that showed promise for treating ALS. Their results showed the compounds minocycline, creatine, ritonavir, celecoxib, sodium phenyl butyrate, ceftriaxone, WHI-P131, thalidomide, and rilutek had no survival benefit at their reported routes and doses. The therapeutic effect of the FDA-approved drug rilutek is known to be marginal, providing on average only two months extended survival in ALS patients. Source, Rehab

Dea Ja Vue. That revolving door of ALS patients caught between Life and Death. ALS is more complicated than a Rubik’s cube which is many sided, with multiple connections and various colors. It appears that maybe color blind researchers are toying with the cube all alone. Yes, it has four side, yes, it's not easy but are you going to tell us, it can't be won. Of course there are the causes, therapies, bio markers, genomics, existing drugs, patient needs, palliative care as well as all avenues of research. Each day someone releases a new hunch or a press release that reads, we continue to be confused by all these colors. Who is in charge of ALS research today? No one! Who oversees and is accountable for existing medical research activities for ALS? No one! What is the strategy for solving this Rubik’s ALS Puzzle? To many strategic plans and competing to lay claim that their theory meets approval for further discussion and/or funding!

May I suggest the NIH and any research group applying for grant money call on the one with a proven theory. Lars Petrus became Rubik's speed champion at age 22. At age 47, Lars holds the speed record at 13.60 seconds and is now employed by Google. What could Google possibly see in a puzzle champion? Think about that!