Findings from a world-first trial in Britain which suggest that existing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory medicine may slow down progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been welcomed by experts in the field.
The MS Society, which is funding the trial, said this showed that ”treatments to slow or stop MS progression have never been more within our reach”.
Researchers said alpha-lipoic acid, also known as ALA, has moved to the second stage of the Octopus trial after showing early promise as a potential treatment to slow progression, reports The Independent. Meanwhile, another drug, diabetes medicine metformin, has been removed after it failed to demonstrate positive findings.
More than 850 people have been recruited at hospitals across the UK and Australia for the study, with more patients being urged to sign up for the trials, being run by the Queen Square MS Centre and the innovative clinical trials unit at University College London (UCL).
They believe high-dose ALA could have the potential to become the first neuroprotective treatment in MS, but said further research was needed to fully understand its safety and dosage.
UCL neurologist Professor Jeremy Chataway, who is leading the study, said: “This is very exciting and proves not only that the Octopus trial design works, but that a new way of protecting nerves could be on the horizon.
“Of course, learning that metformin will be discontinued is disappointing. But finding treatments for progressive MS is extremely difficult, and we’re so pleased to be taking alpha-lipoic acid into the second stage of the trial.
“We’re now looking forward not only to seeing what the final results are, but also to adding in new ‘arms’ to Octopus next year.”
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