Fingolimod (FTY720) Enhances Remyelination Following Demyelination ...

[shoshin]

According to a new study "Fingolimod (FTY720) Enhances Remyelination Following Demyelination of Organotypic Cerebellar Slices." This is the oral med now called Gilena that will hopefully be approved in the US this fall.

"Remyelination, which occurs subsequent to demyelination, contributes to functional recovery and is mediated by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) that have differentiated into myelinating cells. Therapeutics that impact remyelination in the CNS could be critical determinants of long-term functional outcome in multiple sclerosis (MS)... Taken together, these data demonstrate that fingolimod modulates multiple neuroglial cell responses, resulting in enhanced remyelination in organotypic slice cultures that maintain the complex cellular interactions of the mammalian brain."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20413685

So far as I can tell, my brain MRI didn't change one way or the other during the time I was on FTY720. However, after about six months on the drug, I had a follow-up c-spine MRI that apparently was improved from the one I had had about fifteen months before. Of course, it's impossible to say if the improvement had anything to do with FTY720 or even if it occurred while I was on the drug. And, unfortunately, I got significantly worse in terms of symptoms and problems in the fifteen months while my MRI was getting better so it didn't really do me much good.

sho

[shoshin]

On the topic of remyelination, I just saw this news article "Researchers Explore New Ways To Potentially Reverse The Damage Caused By Multiple Sclerosis And Other Neurological Disorders" at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188327.php, which is about an NIH grant for research into myelin and remyelination.

It's an early step and myelin damage isn't the whole picture in MS (there's also damage to axons and other things going on), but it's a step in the right direction.

Neuroprotection and neural repair are apparently hot areas for research and I think all of us would like to see progress with something that would not only slow down or stop progression, but help us get back at least some of what we've lost. As the article points out, "The drugs that are available now focus mainly on controlling the inflammatory nature of the diseases to limit the development of neuronal damage. They do not reverse the damage caused by the diseases."

sho

PS for Wobbly: that slow, foggy brain feeling really *****; I hope yours gets back into gear soon.

[Celery47]

Thank you for sharing!  That's interesting information, and pretty cool :)

I also wanted to say, it really tickles me that it's called "fingomilod." Have you heard that story, how with quarks (the things inside atoms, or whatever they are!), I think the scientist let his 3-year-old pick the name?  Haha, something like that... but it makes me wonder.  Hehe.  "Fingomilod."

Anyway, thank you for the information, and thanks also for making me giggle :)

Wishing you some GOOD periods, so you can go in and use this stuff!!

-Louey

[Wobbly]

thanks for the info.. but I'm having a difficult time at the moment with understanding things like this.  I sometimes think I'm turning really stupid or something.. like I'm not as quick or smart as I used to be.  

take care
wobbly

[Sparkysarah]

Interesting reading as I am considering going on the trial  in UK for ACT-128800 which my Consultant says " is a phase 2 drug that has a similar profile to Fingolimod which we have recently trialed and was a success in reducing the frequency of replapses in the order of 50-60%."  

Will find out more about trial on Friday..but I was interested to look at the link above so thank you.

Sarah