Progress

The Trish MS Research Foundation’s team of volunteers is extremely grateful to all our sponsors, donors and supporters, whose immense generosity is making a significant contribution to the excellent progress being achieved by the dedicated MS scientists funded by the Trish Foundation.

Potential game-changer

The Trish MS Research Foundation is proud and honoured to be contributing to the ground-breaking work of Dr Steven Petratos at Monash University.

The Foundation first funded Dr Petratos’ research in its inaugural round of funding in 2002. Dr Petratos was the only Australian researcher to receive funding in the International Progressive MS Alliance’s inaugural round of funding. The Trish Foundation funded a continuation of this research, providing funding to Dr Petratos in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

In January this year, we were thrilled to announce the research projects receiving funding commencing in 2020. A three-year Trish Translational Research Grant was awarded to Dr Steven Petratos following the stringent grant review process.

Monash researchers have repurposed an existing drug to trick cells in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) into remyelinating their central nervous system (CNS). Demyelination, or the stripping of nerve cells’ protective sheath, is a hallmark of the disease.

By repurposing the drug, called DITPA, researchers led by Dr Steven Petratos from the Monash University Department of Neuroscience are set to conduct a large study into a drug that may one day help halt the progression of MS. Clinical trials are expected to start within three years.

DITPA’s effects, and the mechanism that allows it to work, were found serendipitously by Dr Petratos’ team during research into a group of molecules affecting the development of human brain cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells play an important role in interacting with, supporting and protecting nerve fibres, but are mistakenly targeted by the immune system during MS attacks or flare-ups.

DITPA was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in clinical trials to treat a rare disorder called Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), which severely affects movement. It has also been used in larger trials for cardiac conditions.

The molecule has the advantage of being able to cross the blood-brain barrier and target affected cells in the brain. To date, one of the biggest barriers facing potential MS treatments has been their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the CNS. According to Dr Petratos, DITPA can do this.

Dr Petratos has recently been awarded a patent for the drug. He is also in discussions with a major pharmaceutical company to develop it for trials involving MS patients.

Dr Petratos said: “The effect of the drug that we’ve identified may have a significant benefit in changing the course of MS progression, primarily through protecting the central nervous system and enhancing repair.”

“This is a potential game-changer for MS patients in the future, as there is only one successful trial to date that has reported effective outcomes in limiting MS progression.”

MS affects approximately 2.5 million people worldwide and more than 25,000 people in Australia. Currently, the best therapies can only limit relapses in patients, and there is no cure.

The drug was found, in both animal models and human cell-culture experiments, to prompt oligodendrocytes to remyelinate areas of the CNS affected by the disease. If successful, this exciting study may have immediate implications for people living with MS, providing an alternative treatment option if their condition worsens over time.