Hope for potential MS treatment as remyelination proves successful in mice

A recent study has shown that IRX4204, a compound developed by Io Therapeutics, may help repair myelin and improve walking ability in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). These findings highlight the compound’s potential as a treatment for neurological conditions.

Promoting myelin repair is a key focus of modern MS research. Evidence suggests that activating a protein called the retinoid X receptor (RXR) could aid in this process. IRX4204 is an oral molecule designed to selectively activate RXR, with fewer side effects compared to an older RXR-targeting drug used in cancer treatment, which was poorly tolerated in MS trials.

In collaboration with Dalhousie University, researchers studied the effects of IRX4204 in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a lab model for MS. The study particularly examined the compound’s impact on walking ability. Untreated mice experienced reduced knee and ankle movement as the disease advanced, but those treated with IRX4204 showed notable improvements.

Analysis of the mice’s nervous systems revealed that IRX4204 treatment reduced myelin loss and nerve fibre damage compared to untreated mice. The treatment also increased the activity of genes involved in myelin repair and decreased the activity of inflammation-related genes. Additional experiments confirmed that IRX4204 promoted myelin repair.

The research extended to brain cells grown in the lab, where IRX4204 reduced inflammation in microglia (immune cells in the brain) and encouraged progenitor cells to mature into oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for producing myelin.

While these findings are promising, the researchers cautioned that this study was conducted only in mice and cell models. Further studies are needed to determine whether IRX4204 could benefit people living with MS.