A nasal spray being developed to target brain inflammation may also prove effective in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI)—a leading cause of death and disability—according to a study.
In a mouse model, researchers from Mass General Brigham in the US found that the spray could reduce damage to the central nervous system and behavioral deficits.
The research suggests a potential new therapeutic approach for TBI and other acute forms of brain injury.
Lead author Saef Izzy, neurologist and head of the Immunology of Brain Injury Programme at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), said that TBI leads to cognitive decline, and “chronic inflammation is one of the key reasons.”
“Currently, there is no treatment to prevent the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury,” Izzy added.
The team examined the monoclonal antibody Foralumab, developed by UK-based Tiziana Life Sciences, which has been tested in clinical trials for multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions.
They identified how these modulate the immune response, leading to improved neurological outcomes, including reduced anxiety, slower cognitive decline, and better motor skills, Izzy said. The results are published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
The findings suggest that Foralumab may also be effective for intracerebral hemorrhage and other stroke-related brain injuries, according to the researchers.
“Our patients with traumatic brain injury still don’t have an effective therapeutic to improve their outcomes, so this is a very promising and exciting time to move forward with something that’s backed up with solid science and get it to patients’ bedsides,” said Izzy.
The next step in the research is to translate the findings from preclinical models to human patients, the team added.
(Inputs from IANS)
