Researchers Funded by National MS Society Report That Novel Agents Repair Myelin in Mice
April 19, 2019
A team at Oregon Health & Science University reports that administering the agents “Sob-AM2” and “sobetirome” resulted in the repair of myelin – the substance that wraps nerve fibers and is damaged in MS – and in significant improvement of symptoms in mice with MS-like disease. These agents are chemical cousins of thyroid hormone, which during development promotes myelin growth, but in its natural state is not suitable for promoting myelin repair. Sob-AM2 was designed to enter the brain and spinal cord and to better promote myelin repair with less potential for toxicity.
If further preliminary tests of Sob-AM2 or sobetirome are successful, clinical trials can determine whether these agents have potential as a myelin repair strategy in people with MS. First author Dr. Meredith Hartley is a National MS Society postdoctoral fellow, and several other co-authors including Dr. Dennis Bourdette received Society funding.
Read more on the University website
Read the paper in JCI Insight
Read more about research to repair the nervous system in MS