An international research team has demonstrated that a new plant-derived drug can block the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).
University of Queensland researcher Dr Christian Gruber said the breakthrough could be a step forward in preventing and treating MS and other autoimmune diseases.
“This is a really exciting discovery because it may offer a whole new quality of life for people with this debilitating disease,” he said.
The new drug is expected to be taken by mouth, in contrast to some current MS treatments where patients need to have frequent injections.
MS is a chronic incurable condition marked by attacks that bring gradual deterioration in the patient’s health. About 23,000 people are affected in Australia and 2.5 million worldwide.
Dr Gruber said the new drug – named T20K – was extracted from a traditional medicinal plant, the Oldenlandia affinis.
The drug treatment had been successful in an animal model, and patent applications filed in several countries.
“Phase one clinical trials could begin as early as 2018,” Dr Gruber said.
“Licences have been assigned to Cyxone, a company established last year to develop this new class of drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
“Cyxone’s immediate focus is on bringing T20K through the pre-clinical program required for delivering a safe, orally active drug.”
Dr Gruber said the new treatment arose from a synthesised plant peptide, a class of drugs known as cyclotides.
“Cyclotides are present in a range of common plants, and they show significant potential for the treatment of auto immune diseases,” he said.
“The T20K peptides exhibit extraordinary stability and chemical features that are ideally what you want in an oral drug candidate.”
The international research team demonstrated in an animal model that T20K stopped progression in the normal clinical symptoms of MS.
Learn more: Breakthrough may stop multiple sclerosis in its tracks
The Latest on: Multiple sclerosis
[google_news title=”” keyword=”multiple sclerosis” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Multiple sclerosis
- Multiple Sclerosis walk held at the La Crosse Centeron May 11, 2024 at 6:15 pm
MS is a neurological disorder that impacts the brain and spine, affecting more than 24,000 people in Wisconsin.
- Ingham takes steps for local mum living with multiple sclerosison May 10, 2024 at 12:59 pm
One mother's diagnosis, quickly turned into an entire town rallying to raise funding and awareness for multiple sclerosis.
- 9 celebrities with multiple sclerosis who have opened up about the diseaseon May 10, 2024 at 10:30 am
Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler are two public figures spreading MS awareness by sharing their stories.
- Obesity Drugs and Multiple Sclerosison May 9, 2024 at 11:45 am
What Does Obesity Have to Do With MS? It may seem odd that I’d be writing about anti-obesity medications in the Life With Multiple Sclerosis column. Fair enough. There are, however, numerous studies ...
- Multiple Sclerosis Diagnoses Are Rising—And Doctors Don’t Know Whyon May 9, 2024 at 2:00 am
Price was referred to another eye specialist, then to a neuro ophthalmologist. After what felt like a never-ending six-hour wait inside a neurologist’s office the following Tuesday, she got a two-word ...
- AAN 2024: Exploring New Horizons in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treatmenton May 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Michael Sy, MD, PhD, shares reflections on highlights from AAN 2024, signaling promising avenues in RRMS treatment.
- Dropping the mask of living with multiple sclerosis (Viewpoint)on May 2, 2024 at 5:06 am
The album’s 13th track, “ I Can Do It With a Broken Heart ,” started with Swift singing about how those watching her perform onstage in glittery garb must’ve thought she was having “the time of her ...
- There’s comfort in putting a name to a multiple sclerosis symptomon May 1, 2024 at 10:00 pm
Faced with a new cognitive symptom of multiple sclerosis, columnist Ben Hofmeister is relieved to find a possible explanation: jamais vu.
- Finley siblings share their fight against Multiple Sclerosis, encourages people to get checkedon April 30, 2024 at 7:33 am
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, almost one million Americans live with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an auto-immune condition that affects the central nervous system. According to ...
- ‘Liquid gold’ could bring new hope to multiple sclerosis patients, study suggests: ‘Profound benefit’on April 30, 2024 at 2:30 am
An experimental medication called CNM-Au8 — a drinkable liquid with gold nanocrystals — has shown promising results in clinical trials for improving MS symptoms. Doctors and researchers weighed in.
via Bing News