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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 

About

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. The disease in its relapsing-remitting (RRMS) affects the degradation of the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord.

These insulating myelin sheaths become damaged over time which leads to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad array of symptoms. Axonal damage and rupture especially within the brain related motor systems and spinal cord are happening during further progression of RRMS to secondary progressive forms (SPMS) or during initially developing states of severe primary progressive forms of MS (PPMS).

MS often hits individuals in the prime of their life (20-40 years of age), hence has devastating consequences not only for individuals but also for their families, friends and employers. The disease can cause paralysis, as well as blindness in the most productive years of life.

Prevalence and Market Size

  • Incidence rate is around 70 per 100,000 patient-years in NZ.
  • In the US, the prevalence is around 1 million cases with more than 200,000 patients showing progressive forms.
  • The market size stood in North America in 2019 at $ 15 billion USD.

Treatments Available

There is no known cure for MS and various generic drug therapies are in use.

Ocrelizumab (anti-CD-20 antibody) having some regenerative aspects and approved for RRMS and PPMS; anyway phase 3 showed only marginal halt in decline of EDSS scores after 6 months of treatment in PPMS patients.

MS medications tend to have adverse side effects and many are poorly tolerated by patients.Therefore, there is high unmet medical need for progressive MS forms.

The Science of Multiple Sclerosis

The disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent of the de-myelinating central nervous system conditions and is more common in acclimated climate zones.

Differential vitamin D-dependent metabolism effects have been strongly implicated in the prevalence of the disease. Nevertheless, currently there is no direct link between environmental and/or genetic traits that can predict susceptibility to MS.

Various drugs directed against the central nervous system (CNS) invading immune cells have been approved.

However, all available therapeutic approaches only aim to reduce relapse rates of the disease putting a clear emphasis on the control on the anti-inflammatory side of the immune system.

NRP effects:

  • NRPs are highly effective in the lower μg/kg range in MOG-EAE mice.
  • Strong nerve regenerating effects in prophylactic and therapeutic applications (myelin + axon regeneration as well as motor improvement).
  • SC injection route is the preferred mode of administration.

Curonz has received funds from Fast forward to develop NRPs further for MS.