Diabetes Drug Shows MS Potential

Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Also Included In: Diabetes;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 29 Jul 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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A small trial testing the benefits in multiple sclerosis (MS) of a drug used to treat type II diabetes, in combination with beta-interferon-1a, has been shown to potentially prevent brain cell loss.

The results of the trial in 21 people investigating the effects of pioglitazone (also known as Actos) were published last month in the Journal of Neuroimmunology.

Although the results of the trial showed some evidence of less damage in the brains of people with MS, there were too few people in the study to determine whether this effect was real.

Dr. Susan Kohlhaas, Research Communications Officer at the MS Society said, "These results suggest that pioglitazone may have some benefit in combination with beta-interferon for people with relapsing remitting MS, but this trial is not large enough to determine exactly what that benefit will be.

She added, "A larger clinical trial is needed to decide whether or not pioglitazone will be of benefit to people with MS."

Source
Multiple Sclerosis Society