FIRST ‘3 IN 1’ MS TRIAL COMPLETED

Researchers have completed a clinical trial on MS in which 3 different drugs were tested at the same time instead of 1 at a time – a world first in progressive neurological disease research.

Funded by a partnership between the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research and MS Society UK and National MS Society (US), the ‘MS-SMART’ trial, taking place at a number of UK sites including UCLH, tested the safety and efficacy of 3 repurposed drugs (used to treat other conditions) in 445 people with secondary progressive MS – a later stage and currently untreatable form of the condition. All three drugs had been selected based on promising effects in experimental and pilot human studies.

The 3 drugs in this study were not found to be effective – but researchers said the trial has broken new ground and established a benchmark for future trials not only for MS but also other neurodegenerative disorders such as the Dementias.

The research team and funders would like to thank all the participants and their families for their time, commitment and energy in taking part in the MS-SMART trial. The team would also like to thank all the investigators and trial centres around the UK for being part of this fantastic project and making it happen.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION
Matt Chorley – National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre:
m.chorley@ucl.ac.uk / 0207 679 5291