Convelo Therapeutics is developing two experimental oral treatments to promote myelin repair in multiple sclerosis (MS) and both have shown promise in preclinical models.
The company is in the final stages of safety studies in large
animals. Once those studies are done, it plans to start studies that
support regulatory applications to move the treatments toward clinical
trials, according to Brad Lang, Convelo’s vice president of research.
Summary: A new drug, PIPE-307, shows promise in
reversing multiple sclerosis (MS) damage by promoting myelin
regeneration around nerve cells, potentially restoring movement and
function.
Developed by researchers, this innovative therapy
targets a specific receptor, M1R, and has already demonstrated success
in animal models. PIPE-307 is currently in Phase II clinical trials,
offering hope for a groundbreaking treatment that could stop and even
heal the damage caused by MS.
This novel approach could transform the future of MS therapy by addressing both symptoms and underlying damage.
New treatment may stop and potentially reverse some nerve damage in MS
The newly developed drug — PIPE-307 — blocks the M1R receptor, allowing
the OPCs to differentiate into oligodendrocytes that can then form new
myelin sheaths.
A new study has found direct evidence that an over-the-counter antihistamine can repair the protective nerve sheath that’s damaged in people with multiple sclerosis.
...
Now, researchers from the University of California San Francisco have identified an over-the-counter antihistamine called clemastine that can reverse damage to the myelin sheath and, what’s more, they’ve identified a biomarker that can measure the drug’s effectiveness.
For most of the time since the first description of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1868, the causes of this disabling disease have remained uncertain. Genes have been identified as important, which is why having other family members with MS is associated with a greater risk of developing the disease.
A recent study my colleagues and I conducted found that several types of infection during the teenage years are associated with MS after age 20. Our study didn’t investigate whether people who are more likely to have genetic risks for MS were also more likely to have worse infections. This might explain why people with MS also have more infections that need hospital treatment. If this were the explanation, the infection would not be a risk factor triggering MS, it would only identify those more likely to have MS, anyway. Our new study, published in JAMA Network Open, examines this and shows that glandular fever (one of the infections most associated with MS risk) during the teenage years really is a risk factor for subsequent MS.
Some scientists have suggested that infections like glandular fever (also called infectious mononucleosis “mono” or “kissing disease”) might be worse in people who will go on to develop MS because their immune system is already different. But another explanation – the one that our study investigated – is that the infection triggers MS. It has also been argued that families with more infections are different in other ways from families who have fewer infections. Perhaps the differences between these families – not the infections themselves – are what helps to explain MS risk.
To confirm that infections are a true risk factor for MS, triggering the MS disease process, our latest study compared siblings in the same family. Siblings share much of their genetic make-up and have similar family lives. If one sibling develops glandular fever and goes on to develop MS, while the other does not develop glandular fever and does not develop MS, that would suggest that it is the glandular fever rather than any genetic predisposition that led to the MS. (On the other hand, if only one developed glandular fever but they both later developed MS, that would suggest a genetic predisposition was to blame.) If we see the same pattern in many families, we can be much more certain that that’s the case.
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We looked at glandular fever at different ages, as the teenage years may be a time when exposures are most likely to increase MS risk. The study involved 2.5 million people living in Sweden. Just under 6,000 had a diagnosis of MS after age 20.
We found that glandular fever between ages 11 and 19 was associated with a significantly increased MS risk after age 20 years, in an analysis that compared siblings with each other in every family separately, and then the results were combined. This design was to make sure the results are not because people susceptible to MS are also more likely to have more severe infections because of this susceptibility. The results confirm that glandular fever, and almost certainly other infections, are important risk factors for MS and able to trigger the disease.
The new study also made it possible to look in greater detail at when an infection is more likely to trigger MS. Glandular fever in earlier childhood was less of a risk for MS than when it occurred after age 11 years. The highest risk for MS was seen for infections between ages 11 and 15 years (around the time of puberty), with the risk dropping with increasing age and almost completely disappearing by age 25. Changes in the brain and immune system as people age may help explain this.
MS develops very slowly
Even though glandular fever may be triggering MS, most often around puberty, it can be many years before MS is diagnosed. Many who had the infection between ages 11 and 15 years did not have an MS diagnosis until after they were 30. This is because the damage to the brain caused by MS develops slowly until it makes someone sick enough to receive a diagnosis of MS.
Glandular fever during the teenage years may trigger MS because it can get into the brain. And the damage it causes to nerve cells may cause the immune system to start attacking a part of the nerves that insulates them – called the myelin sheath.
How MS attacks the myelin sheath.
When the immune system is activated in this way, the process is called autoimmunity. Once started, it can damage nerves in the brain that can become progressively worse over the years. Fortunately, modern treatments are becoming increasingly effective in slowing this process.
This study provides stronger evidence that a severe bout of glandular fever (and likely other serious infections) during the teenage years – particularly around puberty - can trigger MS, even though, often, MS may not be diagnosed for at least ten years after the infection.
I have reversed MS at 90% to this day and all thank to dear God rest her soul Ann Boroch!
She asked me if she could post my story on her Facebook and I said of course so you might see some info there too!
I am a real person for those you know me also in person. Worked hard all my life and stressed a lot too due to that. Long hours, stress etc.
8y ago I got diagnosed with MS. My first appointment with my neurologist to this day Dr Adlerfligel in Monaco.
Quick recap for those dont know my story...
- I got my first attack (which I didn't know) in March 2013. Lasted 7d and symptoms disappeared.
I got numbness from my knees and down.
- I got my second bigger attack in May 2013 which lasted 14+ days and wouldn't go away. I was numb on my complete right side and tingling on my hands and feet.
- I started with AVONEX ® (interferon beta-1a) in Sept 2013. After 2y my condition deteriorated and ended up walking with a cane support. Doctor's wanted me to go to second phase meds. I started looking at more natural solution rather becoming a clinical trial.
- March 2014 I got Ann Boroch book "Healing Multiple Sclerosis" and in April started the 3 month strict plan (not the ease in).
I felt stop using the cane 15 day after. I felt more energetic, not sleepy etc and my body reacted better every week. I could see a different advance every month passing.
1 month and half in I asked my doctor to change to Tecfidera 240mg pills and to stop Avonex that was not working for me.
My friends who saw me with cane and knew my conditions started asking what I did and introduced others with MS to me for information on my condition.
I discovered that not everyone wants to try hard to get healed.
When I talked about the nutrition plan/protocol of Ann's I have done on me, I was getting responses like : Oh I have to stop eating feta cheese? (I am from Hellas) or I wont have a cappuccino again? In short, YES you can and will but for 3 months you need to be very strict and follow up strict to a year more. Then things will be as normal as it can get basis your condition, will and effort to be better until there is a cure for us.
3 Months you have to be very strict to give you body time to recover and reduce inflammation. Then you can enjoy some stuff still but with moderation not a weekly thing.
I had my first ice cream 9 months after I started because I wanted to get better.
We should eat to live not live to eat, friends.
We need to control our brains. Sugar is an addiction. Coffee not needed to keep you up if you rest and eat healthy.
Anyhow, I was surprised that a Dr. that I never new before introduced my info to a client of his (in Athens, Piraeus).
5y after... My wife became vegan (after educating herself). She supported me in the nutritional plan by eating and cooking the same, she got more educated on nutrition, studied the same as Ann.
I'm eating vegan 5days and vegetarian on the weekends. I dont miss red meat, chicken, eggs and I have a healthy life as a normal person.
The 10% I left out (from my recovery percentage) is that I cant sprint and do some physical stuff due to MS but all rest are ok.
My MRIs are stable the last 5 years! On the 3rd year my MRI doctor asked what do I do and having such a progress with MS. 3 years ago two "spots" in my head MRI have disappeared. I don't know how but they did.
So I thank God for showing me the way to Ann and her work.
Believe in your self, be strong and try to eliminate stress. Our body is a machine and we have to stop destroying it!
This is a typical Hellenic healthy dish.
Add virgin olive oil and fresh lemon to your plate and enjoy.
After 3rd month if you want to spoil your self add a small piece of goat Feta cheese on the side!
Tip: As dairy ptoducts are not permitted Feta goat cheese is a small treat but not something to be used to. Only goat products allowed in the plan and in very small and moderate quantities.
Ingredients
1/3 cup olive oil2 onions, chopped
2 pounds fresh spinach, rinsed and stemmed1
(8 ounce) can tomato sauce (optional version 2)
2 cups water
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon dried parsleysalt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onions in the oil until soft and translucent.
Add spinach, and cook stirring for a few minutes, then pour in the tomato sauce and water.
Bring to a boil, and season with parsley, dill, salt and pepper. Stir in rice, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, or until rice is tender. Add more water if necessary.
