After years of suffering, new hope has emerged for multiple sclerosis patients. Scientists have found a promising treatment capable of stopping the progression of this chronic disease and repairing the damage it causes. Ten years of work, and a little help from the green mamba snake, have resulted in the discovery of a promising new drug that is being tested on humans to treat multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, and it is a chronic disease that remains with the patient for a long time. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body mistakenly attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis is an unexpected disease that affects people in different ways. Some people with multiple sclerosis may experience only mild symptoms. Others may lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak or walk, when communication between the brain and other parts of the body is cut off.
A drug that will change the course of multiple sclerosis treatment forever has been developed by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco and Continuum Therapeutics. The new drug - called "Pipe 307" - works to activate certain cells in the brain responsible for producing myelin, which is the protective covering of nerves. This medicine stimulates the cells to grow and reproduce, which in turn repair the damaged shell and rebuild the missing parts of it.
The work culminates 10 years of research, leading to the discovery of clemastine's role in stimulating remyelination. Scientists believe that with this new treatment, they may have a chance to not only stop the disease but also cure it. If successful, Pipe 307 could change how multiple sclerosis is treated, offering hope to countless patients.
- Multiple sclerosis causes deterioration in the protective insulating material that surrounds nerve cells, known as myelin. This leads to devastating problems with movement, balance, and vision. Left untreated, the disease may lead to paralysis and a shortened lifespan.
- Researchers have continued to use clemastine to understand the therapeutic potential of myelin regeneration in multiple sclerosis. They developed tools to monitor remyelination in animal models and MS patients, showing that the benefits seen with clemastine came from remyelination.
- The ideal drug needs to focus on M1 receptors, which are crucial for the development of oligodendrocytes that can repair myelin. The venom of the green mamba snake has been instrumental in identifying these receptors, leading to the creation of Pipe 307, which is currently undergoing testing.
