Possibility of a Daily Pill Brings Hope for a Cure for Multiple Sclerosis

posted on Oct 25 by Guest Author in the Disability News, Health, Multiple Sclerosis category

A group of Canadian researchers at the University of Alberta have recently made a breakthrough that could mean a new treatment option for people with multiple sclerosis (MS): a daily pill that could stop or may even reverse symptoms of the disease. Researcher Dr. Chris Power stated in a recent newsletter, “This frankly is an exciting breakthrough and has huge potential. The role of neurosteroids in the brain has been known for some time but no one thought–until now–that they might play a role in MS.”

The initial idea for the direction of this new study evolved as a result of researchers discovering that people with MS tend to have lower levels of a type of brain chemical called neurosteroids, which are instrumental in maintaining normal brain cell function. The researchers tested brains of 16 MS patients in Alberta–which has the highest level of MS in the world–and other patients without MS and found that the MS patients had significantly lower levels of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone than patients with other diseases.

Allopregnanolone is a derivative of cholesterol and is linked to vitamin D. The vitamin D link is particularly interesting to researchers because of the link between higher MS rates in northern areas of the world and lower vitamin D levels due to low sunlight exposure. The researchers tested the effects of allopregnanolone on mice with a multiple-sclerosis-like disease, and they found that the neurosteroid significantly reduced inflammation in the brain and repaired nerve fibers. The mice experienced increased mobility for 30 days after beginning the treatment. “Overall we found that the mice showed a 50 percent reduction in MS disease severity in the brain,” said Dr. Power.

The current MS drugs on the market merely slow down progression of the disease; they don’t stop the progression. A daily dose of allopregnanolone and possibly other neurosteroids may stop progression of MS and possibly reverse some its symptoms. “We were surprised by our initial discovery that this neurosteroid was present in reduced levels in MS patients and then amazed to discover that when we used it as treatment it had such significant effects,” Dr. Power stated.

The university obtained funding from the Canadian government and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Dr. Power hopes that his research will get funding for first-stage human trials of allopregnanolone within the next couple of years. “Initially we will be looking that it is safe to take,” he said. “But to some extent that work has been done because of the trials in other disease areas. Our research on mice showed no toxicity. If we overcome that hurdle–which we should–then we would be onto stage two trials to establish that it works as a treatment.”

The original mice studies used injected neurosteroids, but the researchers are hopeful to find a delivery method that is less invasive, like a pill. Dr. Potter said it will be some time before allopregnanolone will be approved as as a treatment for MS. “We are talking about it being at least six or seven years away as a treatment, but I am optimistic about our chances even though there are a number of hurdles to overcome,” he said.

Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2040959/Daily-pill-stop-reverse-multiple-sclerosis.html
http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/neurology/brain-steroid-clue-to-multiple-sclerosis/5036351.article

Image source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Video source:
http://youtu.be/E9fB44sAzvo