Registration of Interest Update (17-September-2026)

As you may have heard or seen, Octopus has released the decision from our interim “checkpoint”. Below is a summary of this information, including where you can access further information, videos and webinar.

So what has been looked at in Octopus?

The first Octopus “checkpoint” or “gate” has taken place (shown in the diagram below as “Analysis of Stage 1 data”). The data has been reviewed from all participants (from both Stage 1 and Stage 2) who joined the trial up to and including 1st July 2026.  The Trial Team looked at data on a mix of four assessments:

• Brain shrinkage (from the MRI scans on those who joined up to 23rd November 2024)
• Expanded Disability Status Scale or EDSS (measure of how MS affects daily activities)
• Timed 25 Foot Walk (how long it takes to walk 25 feet)
• Nine Hole Peg Test (how well hands and fingers work)

Based on this data, recommendations were sent to the Independent Trial Steering Committee who made this decision.

What was the decision?

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) did show shows early signs that it might help people with progressive MS. Participants will continue to take trial treatment (capsules) and further participants will be recruited.

• Metformin did not show any evidence of promise as a treatment for progressive MS. Participants taking this trial treatment will be told and must stop taking their capsules. No further participants will start this treatment.

For more information on these results, please see our video on YouTube found here.

 What does this mean for those on the Registration of Interest waiting list?

The Registration of Interest Form and recruitment to the trial reopened on Thursday 17th September.

Hospital Sites will restart screening participants for the ongoing treatment arms.  The treatment arms available will be:

1) Standard of Care plus Alpha Lipoic Acid

2) Standard of Care plus placebo

Hospital sites will contact potential participants when they are ready and able to recruit more participants. The trial needs more than 600 participants more so we need you!

The Octopus Trial will also add more treatment arms in 2027. We will keep you posted on what these are and when they will be available.

Octopus Trial Webinar for Participants and Potential Participants

The MS Society is hosting an online webinar on 23-September-2026 at 6pm. They will be joined by Professor Jeremy Chataway (Octopus Chief Investigator) and Dr Emma Tallantyre (Octopus Recruitment Lead). They’ll share the interim results of the trial, what these mean for people with MS and the next steps in Octopus. There will be an opportunity to ask questions too.

If you would like to register and receive the details for this webinar please follow this link.

We know many of you have been waiting a long time. We are very grateful for your patience and for staying with us. Your support helps make this trial possible.

We need over 600 people with Progressive MS to find out if Alpha lipoic acid is effective. So we need you and thank you for your registration and patience.

Where else can I find out information?

• There are FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) put together with the Public Participant representatives on the trial. These are on the Octopus Trial website (www.ms-octopus.info) and can also be accessed by scanning the QR code on the right.
• If you have a general question about Octopus or MS research, please get in touch with the MS Society Help Hub: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/support-and-community/ms-help-support-services