May 20, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Early Study Supports Nanoparticle Delivery of LIF Protein to Brain LIF, aĀ protein with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, can be successfully delivered to immune cells in the brain using a nanoparticle formulation, and partially reverses induced paralysis in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a proof-of-concept study has found. These findings validate LIF-loaded nanoparticles as…
December 3, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Nasal Delivery of Interferon-beta at Lower Doses Shows MS Treatment Potential in Mice Nasal delivery of Rebifās active ingredient interferon-beta, loaded in carbohydrate-based nanoparticles, reduced disease progression and nerve cell inflammation in a preclinical mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study demonstrated. This alternate, non-invasive, low-cost treatment strategy…
October 21, 2020 News by Diana Campelo Delgado NanoStilbene Better Than Copaxone at Reducing MS Symptoms in Mouse Model The nutritional supplement NanoStilbene, developed by Therapeutic Solutions International, worked better to reduce neurological damage and disease symptoms in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) than the market-leading MS therapy Copaxone, the company announced. NanoStilbene is composed of easily absorbed nano-particles of pterostilbene, a…
August 25, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Topas and Lily Are Partnering to Develop Therapies for Autoimmune Disorders Topas Therapeutics and Eli Lilly and Company are teaming up to develop compounds that could be used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes. The compounds, based on a Topas technology platform, will be aimed at restoring immune tolerance. Immune tolerance refers to the immune system being unresponsive to certain antigens ā for instance, the bodyās own proteins. Without immune tolerance, the body can generate an excessive immune response that prompts the immune system to attack healthy organs or tissue ā a process called autoimmunity Under the multiyear agreement, Topas will receive research and development funding. It will also receive financial rewards from the success of any drug developed under the collaboration. The agreement will give Lilly the option to license all therapies created under the collaboration, and to develop them further. "We are excited to be working with Lilly to generate drug candidates using our proprietary technology," Timm Jessen, the CEO of Topas Therapeutics, said in a press release. "We expect this work to support the value of our approach" of triggering immune tolerance against antigens, he said. The fact that an important pharmaceutical company like Lilly is interested "in our technology, we believe, supports the strong commercial potential of our work." Topas develops compounds against autoimmune reactions ā that is, situations in which the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. It is already developing treatments for multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, and other autoimmune disorders. While the majority of such therapies try to shut down the immune system, Topasā approach is to trigger antigen-specific immune tolerance. This allows the body to regain control over an excessive immune response, while sparing the body's normal immunity. Topas links its compounds to tiny nanoparticles that liver sinusoidal endothelial cells can absorb. The liver cells are the first place where immune T-cells can learn what the body should not fight against. In studies of mice with multiple sclerosis, a single injection of nanoparticles containing peptides found in neurons triggered a potent protective effect, improving the disease's symptoms and blocking its progression. Peptides are components of proteins. "Lilly is committed to be an innovation leader in immunology," said Dr. Thomas F. Bumol, senior vice president of biotechnology and immunology research at Lilly. "Topas has a very novel approach to immune tolerance induction, which we would like to see successfully applied to certain disease-relevant antigens. We look forward to working together with Topas on their unique platform."
September 27, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Future MS Treatment: Selectively Targeting T-cells May Come As Temporary Tattoo Antioxidant-filled nanoparticles injected under the skin may become a future multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment that comes with a perk or a drawback, depending on how a patient sees it. Ā The injection leaves a temporary dark spot on the skin, resembling a tattoo. The tattoo might be a small issue considering…
February 26, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc MS Researchers Create a Nanoparticle Drug Able to Stop Inflammation and Autoimmune Attacks in Mice Researchers, working on an animal model and human cells, discovered a mechanism to halt autoimmune disease damage andĀ developed of a novel class of drugs that triggers the mechanism, and which has the potential to treat autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) without impairing the normal and necessary activities of the…
December 16, 2015 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD MS May Be Triggered by the Death of Brain Cells Researchers are proposing for a first timeĀ thatĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) is triggered by the death of a specific cell population within the central nervous system called oligodendrocytes. The study, titled āOligodendrocyte death results in immune-mediated CNS demyelination,ā was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Oligodendrocytes,…