Researchers may have struck “gold” when it comes to treatments multiple sclerosis,
An experimental drug called CNM-Au8 – a drinkable liquid with gold nanocrystals – has shown promising results in clinical trials in terms of improving MS symptoms.
“Catalytically active” liquid developed by Klein Nanomedicine South CarolinaAccording to researchers, it can cross the blood-brain barrier to help improve cellular energy and restore neurological function.
Doctors at the University of Sydney presented findings from the Phase 2 clinical trial at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in early April 2024.
The clinical trials involved 78 patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.
An experimental drug called CNM-Au8 – a drinkable liquid with gold nanocrystals – has shown promising results in clinical trials for improving MS symptoms. (Clean Nanomedicine)
Patients’ experience finds “profound clinical benefit” of Gold Liquid Suspension physical improvement Not achieved in earlier tests.
Need for new MS drugs
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve.
In people with MS, white cells called lymphocytes infiltrate the central nervous system and cause inflammation.
This often leaves them feeling imbalanced or imbalanced lose their sightAccording to Dr. Robert C. Surgot, chief of the neuro-ophthalmology service at Wills Eye Hospital and professor of ophthalmology, neurology and neurosurgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia.
ms medications There is currently work available to address the inflammation — but a subgroup of patients continue to experience symptoms even without inflammation, he said. This is a condition called Progression Independent of Relapse Activity (PIRA).
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“This is a non-inflammatory component of the disease, where patients’ vision and cognitive abilities will deteriorate,” Surgot, who was involved in the clinical trials of CNM-AU8, told Fox News Digital.
Researchers suspected that the mitochondria – the parts of cells that are responsible for supplying energy to those cells – had something to do with what was causing these patients’ symptoms.
“The theory was that if we could give mitochondria an extra boost, then neurons, axons and other cells Central nervous system Could work better,” Surgot said.
According to researchers, the “catalytically active” liquid may help improve cellular energy and restore neurological function by crossing the blood-brain barrier. (Clean Nanomedicine)
“In other words, maybe these cells are not dead, but they are hibernating.”
According to Surgot, gold nanoparticles were originally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis several years ago.
“Klein crystallized the gold particles and brought them to a highly pure nanoparticle state – into particles very small, so that they can pass through the blood-brain barrier to the cells that need it to function better.”
‘Significant Results’
Of 78 participants in a randomized clinical trial conducted in Australia, two-thirds of them received gold treatment and the other third received a placebo over a three-year period.
“We expected more patients to be admitted, but Covid intervened“Sergot said.
Neither the patients nor the neurologists overseeing the trial knew who was receiving the actual drug.
“We are very encouraged and ready to take the next step. This will help a lot of people.”
“Patients saw clinical improvements in the function of their vision and their cognitive abilities,” Sergot reported.
Doctors also saw improvements in electrophysiology, he said – “The patients’ MRIs looked better, which is a special measure.”
“The theory was that if we could give the mitochondria an extra boost, the neurons, axons and other cells in the central nervous system could function better,” said one doctor. (iStock)
There was no decline in retinal thickness in patients who were given the drug, but a decline was seen in those who took a placebo, he said.
“This was a very important result, and we are very hopeful that we may be able to help patients who have relapsing-remitting MS and who have progression independent of relapsing-remitting activity – or who may not have any seizures at all.” and have not fully recovered from it,” Surgot said.
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No one participating in the trial reported any adverse side effects, he said.
“The safety profile is excellent,” Surgot told Fox News Digital. “I can’t say there are no side effects — but no patients discontinued the trial because of significant side effects.”
The researchers said none of the trial participants reported any adverse side effects from the gold treatment. (iStock)
After the successful completion of Phase 2 trials, researchers are now looking towards Phase 3 trials.
“We are very encouraged and we are ready to take the next step,” Surgot said. “It’s really going to help a lot of people.”
The doctor said patients taking CNM-AU8 will still need to continue their standard regimen of anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Looking ahead, the “liquid gold” drug has the potential to help treat symptoms of other neurological disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’sAccording to Surgot – but right now the focus is on MS.
“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves, but there is a lot of information to support trying it in other diseases.”
Patients share their experiences
Damien Cunco, of Arlington, Virginia, was one of the MS patients participating in the trial. He had previously taken preventive treatment including Zeposia and Tecfidera.
“These drugs reduced the risk of relapse, but had no effect on worsening of symptoms,” Cunco told Fox News Digital.
Damien Cunco, of Arlington, Virginia, was one of the MS patients participating in the trial. (Clean Nanomedicine)
The primary symptoms of Kunko include heat intolerance, foot drop/limping, numbness, balance problems, double vision and a slight decline in cognitive function and energy.
After four months of taking CNM-Au8, Kunko found that her walking speed was 14% faster.
“I was even able to run short sprints of 5-10 yards without falling, which was impossible before taking (the drug),” he said.
“The best ‘side effect’ was knowing that this drug would cure my MS problems.”
“I also experienced improved visual acuity, less severe double vision, zero cognitive fog issues, and increased energy levels.”
Later in testing, Kunko was able to withstand high heat and humidity for several hours and did not experience double vision, foot drop, extreme numbness, or any numbness. fatigue issues,
“It was nice to be able to go up and down the stairs without having to hold on to the handrail,” he said.
According to doctors, clinical improvement was seen in both the visual system and MRI scans of the patients. (iStock)
The patient said he did not experience any negative side effects or adverse reactions.
“The best ‘side effect’ was knowing that this drug would cure my MS problems,” Kunko said.
He said, “I am very disappointed that this therapy is not yet commercially available for people who need it to restore function and reduce MS symptoms.”
doctors have weight
Dr. Mark Siegel, Clinical Professor of Medicine NYU Langone Medical Center and a medical contributor to Fox News, were not involved in the development of the drug, but commented on the potential of sleep therapy.
“Gold-containing compounds have long been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis – known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“And now gold-containing agents are being studied in MS and ALS.”
While the latest study is small, Siegel said, it “looks promising in terms of modifying the disease and improving thinking and vision, which can be affected in the early stages of MS.”
He added, “more research “To be conclusive requires working with large numbers.”
“Gold-containing compounds have long been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis – known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs,” one doctor told Fox News Digital. (Clean Nanomedicine)
Dr. James Kuo, vice president of R&D at Silo Pharma in New Jersey, also was not involved in the development of the drug, but said the trial results are “encouraging.”
“These new long-term results from the Phase 2 clinical trial support the therapeutic hypothesis that CNM-AU8 is reactivating nerve cells in MS patients,” Kuo told Fox News Digital.
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“What’s even more encouraging is that continued improvement was seen in both primary and secondary endpoints,” he said. “There was physiological growth in the visual nerve pathways, which is a biomarker of nerve health. Additionally MRI measurements support remyelination occurring.”
“If further clinical data support these preliminary findings, MS patients may have a new, well-tolerated oral therapy that is not based on immune system modulation.”
