New drug LL-341070 shows promise for vision loss in MS

A research team from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus identified a promising novel treatment for treating vision loss in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Experimental drug LL-341070 is the one found to enhance the potential of the brain to repair the myelin, the protective covering around the nerve fibers. Such damage is responsible for the conditions of MS and occurs naturally due to aging. This generally causes loss of vision, loss of motor capability, and the cognitive functions are also affected.

The vision study showed that the brain does have an ability to heal myelin damage but at a very slow rate and ineffectively. But when LL-341070 was tested on mice, the researchers found that it did enhance the healing rate considerably even after massive damage and enhanced the functions of the brain related to vision.

This research brings us one step closer to a world where the brain can heal itself, stated Ethan Hughes, PhD, co-lead author and associate professor at the CU School of Medicine. By tapping into this potential, we hope to be able to help people with MS and similar conditions, possibly reversing some of the damage and giving them a chance to regain their vision and cognitive abilities.

The researchers further found that LL-341070 made the repair process more effective, especially after great damage. Partial myelin repair was a significant improvement in helping brain functions associated with vision improvement.

“We’ve known for a long time how crucial myelin is for brain function,” said Daniel Denman, PhD, co-lead author and assistant professor at the CU School of Medicine. “This study shows how important cortical myelin is for vision. This drug could be a real breakthrough because it speeds up the brain’s natural healing process.”

The team plans to test LL-341070 on other areas of the brain and refine the treatment, with hopes of making it even more effective and eventually available to patients.

“This discovery is just the beginning,” Hughes added. “We’re hopeful that LL-341070 and similar treatments could one day offer real, lasting improvements to brain function and quality of life for patients.”