Key points from article :
Clinical trial of Bexarotene showed regenerated myelin around nerves in multiple sclerosis(MS).
MS arises when the immune system mistakenly attacks the fatty myelin coating.
The trial showed that “remyelination” was possible in humans.
Bexarotene was assessed by using brain scans to monitor changes to damaged neurons.
Brain scans revealed that neurons had regrown their myelin sheaths.
But the anti cancer drug cannot be used as a treatment because of its severe side-effects.
“It’s disappointing that this is not the drug we’ll use, but it’s exciting that repair is achievable and it gives us great hope for another trial..” - Prof Alasdair Coles, lead researcher.
Research by University of Cambridge presented at MSVirtual2020.
