Published January 16, 2024, in Drug Discovery News
SAN FRANCISCO/LOS ANGELES, CA – Researchers at UCLA and UCSF have identified promising approaches to restore the myelin sheath damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to disability.
This discovery offers potential therapies to protect neurons and slow disability progression.
The team, including UCLA neurologist Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, discovered that estriol, a hormone naturally high during pregnancy, and the common antihistamine clemastine can help rebuild this protective coating. The pregnancy hormone promotes remyelination to rebuild myelin. Separately, the antihistamine clemastine demonstrated similar remyelinating effects. Using advanced MRI scans, they showed these treatments actually restore myelin in key areas of the brain, offering a new path to protect nerves and improve function for MS patients. These studies provide the first biologically validated imaging evidence of remyelination in humans and highlight strategies to target both lesions and normal-appearing white matter, crucial for preserving neuronal function.
The researchers aim to translate these findings into clinical trials for therapies that repair neural damage and improve quality of life for people living with MS. Clinical trials will bring repair-focused treatments to patients.
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About UCLA Health: UCLA Health is among the nation’s premier academic medical systems, recognized for excellence in patient care, research, and education. The Department of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is internationally known for advancing treatments in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Through discovery and innovation, UCLA Health scientists continue to translate laboratory breakthroughs into therapies that improve lives worldwide.
About Drug Discovery News: Drug Discovery News is a leading global publication covering the latest scientific breakthroughs in biomedical research, drug development, and translational medicine. Through rigorous reporting and expert analysis, the journal connects the research community with emerging discoveries that move science from bench to bedside.
About CleopatraRX™: CleopatraRX™ is a women’s health company translating breakthrough neuroscience and hormone research into targeted treatments for women’s brain health. Its patented PearlPAK® therapy, derived from UCLA discoveries led by Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, is the only menopause treatment designed to support cognition by activating estrogen receptors in the brain. With its integrated telehealth platform, CleopatraRX is advancing a new standard of care for women’s health during midlife and beyond.