| Project Detail |
An inexpensive, easy-to-administer, curative therapy for multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks myelin-producing cells that create the protective sheaths surrounding nerves and affecting vision, sensation and movement. There is currently no cure. Available treatments are clinically effective but also expensive, intrusive and with significant side-effects. Funded by the European Research Council, the REGENERA MS project aims to evaluate a novel peptide that may halt MS progression and regenerate demyelinated tissue as a next-generation neurotrophic factor (NTF) therapy. It overcomes several significant challenges with other NFT therapies and may offer a route to a cure. The project will also explore commercialisation strategy and develop a business case to bring this life-changing therapy to patients.
REGENERA MS will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of a novel peptide as a superior treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Successful commercialization of our peptide could reduce the socioeconomic burden of MS, provide an early-therapy option to delay disease progression and thus extend and improve patients’ lives, with potential effectiveness in related neurodegenerative diseases. MS is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurological disease without a cure, affecting the lives of 1.2M Europeans and causing significant economic costs to patients and society. Currently, there is no cure for MS. Approved disease-modifying treatments such as IFN-ß1, glatiramer acetate and alemtuzumab are clinically effective but come with high costs, significant side-effects, and intrusive administration. Thus, a medical unmet need remains for novel MS therapies that can halt progression, promote myelin repair and limit complications. To improve on the current therapeutic regimen, we propose a next-generation neurotrophic factor (NTF) therapy that has curative potential by halting MS progression and regenerating demyelinated tissue. My group has discovered a novel peptide with neurotrophic properties and which, in contrast to classical NTFs, (i) has neurorestorative effects and can enhance remyelination (ii) penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB), (iii) can be subcutaneously administered, and (iv) can be inexpensively produced. In REGENERA MS, we will evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties and efficacy of a novel therapeutic peptide in organotypic brain cultures, human induced oligodendrocyte-like pluripotent stem cell-derived cells and in MS animal models. Subsequently, we will verify the IP position and strategy, perform an in-depth market and competitor analysis, and finally consolidate these findings into a business case to establish the best path to commercialization. |
