PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) – They’re calling it a potential game-changer.
Doctors at Oregon Health and Science University are part of a new breakthrough in research on multiple sclerosis.
Researchers say they’ve developed a compound that can lead to the repair of a protective cover for cells in the brain and spine. That cover, called myelin, is often damaged in patients diagnosed with MS.
Two of the senior authors involved in the study say the drug they helped create is a first for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
“There are no known drugs currently available that stimulate myelin. That’s the one big problem remaining with ms therapy,” said Tom Scanlan, Ph.D. at OHSU.
Doctor Dennis Bourdette said he expects it will be a few years before the compound is ready for clinical trials. You can read more about the research on OHSU’s website.
There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis.