Show Caption Hide Caption ALS patient keeps physical fitness a big part of her life Fitness was a central part of Nancy Poon's life until 2 years ago, when she received a devastating ALS diagnosis. After decades of clinical trials for treatments that ended in dashed dreams, Poon and other ALS patients are hopeful that Amylyx’s AMX0035, which got a $2.2 million grant from the $111 million Ice Bucket Challenge, will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. When the FDA receives a new drug application to treat advanced cancers or other diseases like ALS that progress rapidly, Woodcock told USA TODAY, the agency can approve it quickly – depending on the results, safety and the company's ability to manufacture it.