Scientists in the U.K. have found that a new drug being tested for cancer therapy may also be able to reduce damage in patients with spinal cord injuries.
University of Birmingham scientists have been testing the brain-penetrating drug, which has shown promise in regenerating damaged nerves in the spine. The research was published in Clinical and Translational Medicine July 12.
The drug, known as AZD1390, has shown promise in the lab, regenerating nerves and restoring sensory and motor functions in animal models with spinal trauma.
Teams also found that a different but similar drug, AZD1236, can block inflammation in the spine following spinal injury.
Both of the studies are part of AstraZeneca's innovation program that makes compounds, tools and technologies available to researchers to advance drug development.
"This is an exciting time in spinal cord injury research with several different investigational drugs being identified as potential therapies for spinal cord injury. We are particularly excited about AZD1390, which can be taken orally and reaches the site of injury in sufficient quantities to promote nerve regeneration and restore lost function," University of Birmingham Professor of Neuroscience and study author Zubair Ahmed said in a July 12 news release.
"Our findings show a remarkable recovery of sensory and motor functions, and AZD1390-treated animals being indistinguishable from uninjured animals within four weeks of injury."