Intranasal drug slows MS progression in mice study

A new study has found that an anti-inflammatory drug administered nasally may reduce the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice.

Researchers focused on molecules called inflammasomes which are responsible for the activation of the inflammatory response in the body. They discovered that a drug called VX-765 inhibits caspase-1, a component of inflammasomes that promotes damaging inflammation.

Delivering the drug intranasally helped prevent damage to the brain cells of the mice in the study, slowing the progression of the disease. Researchers said delivering a drug in this way is a lot easier for patients because you need less of it, it doesn’t go into the circulatory system, and it’s not broken down as quickly.

Further research is needed to see if this could be a viable treatment for people living with MS in the future.