STAT+: Color me skeptical: Drinking gold is not an ALS cure

STAT PlusOpinionAdam’s Biotech Scorecard Color me skeptical: Drinking gold is not an ALS cure Plus: One of biotech’s worst-ever CEOs was fired Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Adam FeuersteinMay 7, 2026 Senior Writer, Biotech Adam Feuerstein[email protected]Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54. This is the online version of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter. STAT+ subscribers can sign up here to get it delivered to their inbox. It’s been a while since I wrote a “Mean Adam” newsletter.Advertisement The biotech company Clene is developing a treatment for ALS called CNM-Au8 that it describes as a “highly concentrated aqueous suspension of catalytically-active, clean-surfaced, faceted gold nanocrystals.” Allow me to translate: The Clene “drug” is gold microdust suspended in water. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In ALS, biotechnology, Cancer, drug development, research, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Adam Feuerstein Senior Writer, Biotech Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54. STAT+ Newsletter Senior writer Adam Feuerstein's unfiltered, uncompromising analysis on the biotech world Recommended Adam's Biotech Scorecard April 30, 2026 STAT Plus: What does Akeso’s primo plenary spot say about its survival data? Adam's Biotech Scorecard April 23, 2026 STAT Plus: Can Erasca be biotech’s next big thing? We’ll see Advertisement Adam's Biotech Scorecard April 16, 2026 STAT Plus: Travere’s drug for a kidney disease doesn’t improve kidney function. The FDA approved it anyway Adam's Biotech Scorecard April 2, 2026 STAT Plus: ‘Takeover Tuesday’ saves biotech’s quarter Adam's Biotech Scorecard March 26, 2026 STAT Plus: Allogene’s off-the-shelf CAR-T is nearing an early but pivotal study readout Subscriber Picks