INTERNATIONAL: U.S President Joe Biden on Thursday has signed into law the "Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act" which fast-tracks funding for research of degenerative neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

"For too long, there have been no survivors of ALS but this bill could get us closer to changing that," Biden has said during the virtual signing ceremony from the White House.

The Act requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create grant programs, a public-private partnership, and an action plan for the study of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, including investigational drugs, the White House said on its website.

Biden has said the law invests $100 million annually for the next five years to help reach its goals. He also said he will call for the creation of a government research agency to advance breakthroughs in other neurological diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's.