CCMR-One: a trial of bexarotene in multiple sclerosis

A trial of a possible remyelinating drug in multiple sclerosis

Nerves within the brain and spinal cord are normally protected by a surrounding layer of a substance called myelin. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system of the body attacks this myelin, stripping it off the nerve fibres. This causes the nerves to malfunction, leading to your multiple sclerosis symptoms. Animal studies have shown that a group of drugs can stimulate cells in the brain to repair damaged myelin. This process is called "remyelination". One of the drugs in this group is bexarotene, a capsule already used as an anti-cancer medication. We believe that bexarotene may also promote remyelination in people with multiple sclerosis, which could potentially reverse or alleviate symptoms. The purpose of this research is to assess whether bexarotene causes side effects in people with multiple sclerosis who are also taking disease-modifying drugs and also to assess whether it really can promote remyelination.

The trial is now completed and being analysed. We hope to make the results available at the end of September 2020.

The trial centres were at Cambridge (Prof Alasdair Coles) and Edinburgh (Dr Peter Connick).