A world-first clinical trial has revealed that an existing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
The researchers explained that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), an existing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug, successfully passed the first phase of the clinical trial called Octopus trial, thus qualifying it to move to the second phase of the trial.
This drug has shown promising initial results, leading researchers to believe it could become an effective treatment to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis, and possibly the first preventative neurological treatment for the disease.
The diabetes drug metformin, which was also being tested as a potential treatment, was removed from the trial after failing to show any positive results or beneficial effect on disease progression. Its exclusion is a necessary step to free up time and resources and focus efforts on more promising treatments, such as alpha-lipoic acid.
More than 850 people have been recruited at hospitals across the UK and Australia, with more patients being invited to sign up. The trial is being run by researchers from the Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre and the Innovative Clinical Trials Unit at University College London.
Researchers believe that high doses of alpha-lipoic acid could become the first preventative neurological treatment for multiple sclerosis, but they stressed that patients should not try to obtain the drug outside of clinical trials, as more research is needed to fully understand its safety and dosage.
Professor Jeremy Chataway, a neurologist at University College London who is leading the study, said: “This is incredibly exciting and demonstrates that the Octopus trial design is working and that a new way to protect nerves may be on the horizon.” He added: “Of course, knowing that metformin will be discontinued is disappointing, but finding treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis is extremely difficult, and we are delighted to have moved alpha-lipoic acid into phase two. We also look forward to adding new arms to the Octopus trial next year.”
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis range from chronic fatigue and bladder and bowel problems to mobility difficulties. There are more than a dozen treatments for people with relapsing-remitting MS, but those with the progressive form need newer therapies to slow or stop the nerve damage that causes disability.
Professor Max Parmar of University College London said the trial design, which is also used in prostate cancer, helps to accelerate the "evaluation of promising treatments" and deliver benefits to patients "years, sometimes decades, ahead of what would have been possible with traditional methods."
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