Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – The initial patients participating are being recruited in a significant trial that could revolutionize the way the evaluations of treatments are conducted for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), that is led by the University College London (UCL).
Octopus a clinical trial which is one of the 1st among the globe, that received funds from the MS Society that is led by researchers at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL. The trial is multi-arm and multi-stage (MAMS), where various different treatments are used to identify which, one is best suited in the trial and should function up to 3 times speedier than traditional methods.
Researchers indicated that over 130,000 individuals with MS, reside in the UK, and tens of thousands with the progressive forms have nothing to hinder their MS from worsening.
MS, is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It is a progressive condition that damages the myelin sheath, which is the protective covering that surrounds nerve fibers, leading to disruptions in the communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Symptoms of MS vary depending on the location and severity of the damage to the CNS. Some common symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, tingling, numbness, difficulty with coordination, balance problems, and cognitive impairment. In some cases, individuals with MS may also experience vision problems, including blurred or double vision, and even complete loss of vision.
Professor Jeremy Chataway of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and lead of the trial, says “The multi-arm, multi-stage approach to trialling emerging medications has been utterly transformative in other conditions, so I’m thrilled we’re now able to apply it to MS. Ultimately, Octopus will lead to more treatments for progression becoming available to people living with MS sooner.”
Professor Chataway further indicated that reaching this stage was an incredible effort of individuals up and down the UK.
