Disappointing results for recent MS statin trial

A recent trial has found that a commonly prescribed statin does not slow the progression of disability in people living with a specific type of multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers aimed to see if simvastatin, typically used to lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease risk, could benefit those with secondary progressive MS.

The seven-year MS-STAT study, which included nearly 1,000 participants across 31 UK sites, concluded that simvastatin is not an effective neuroprotective treatment for this form of MS. However, at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) conference in Copenhagen, researchers shared that the findings would still contribute to a greater understanding of the biology of progressive MS.