**5.3.4 Anakinra**

Anakinra is a recombinant antibody directed against the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R). IL-1 is involved in sustaining the neuroinflammatory process. Treatment with anakinra in the G93A-SOD1 transgenic mouse model of ALS extended the lifespan of the animals and decreased neuroinflammation (Meissner et al., 2010). Thus blocking of the IL-1R may be a potential target in decreasing the speed of ALS progression (van der Meer & Simon, 2010). Currently, a phase II study (NCT01277315), designed as a riluzole add-on study, investigates the safety and tolerability of anakinra in ALS.
