A groundbreaking drug restores mobility to quadriplegic individuals
What seemed impossible is starting to become a reality: regaining mobility after a spinal cord injury. Scientists from Brazil, after over 20 years of research, developed polylaminin, an experimental drug that has restored partial or complete movement to patients who were left quadriplegic. Based on a protein naturally produced by the body, the therapy promises to transform regenerative medicine and offer a simpler and more cost-effective solution than stem cells.
### Imitating Nature to Unlock Mobility
Polylaminin is derived from laminin, an essential protein in the body. In its natural state, it organizes tissues and promotes the growth of axons, the fibers that transmit electrical impulses between neurons. By polymerizing it in the laboratory, researchers managed to reactivate this capability, turning it into a compound capable of stimulating the regeneration of damaged spinal cord.
### Encouraging Clinical Results
Trials conducted in hospitals in Rio de Janeiro show impressive numbers: patients with recent injuries (between 24 hours and three days) regained partial or even total mobility after receiving the injection. “We are mimicking what nature already does,” explained Tatiana Sampaio, a biologist and coordinator of the project.
### Public and Private Support Driving Innovation
The breakthrough was made possible thanks to the support of FAPERJ and the pharmaceutical company Cristália, which contributed R$3 million and an agreement to produce and scale up the substance. With this backing, the medication could reach the market in two years, provided it receives approval from Anvisa, the Brazilian regulatory agency.
### Challenges and Next Steps
The next goal is to address more challenging cases, harder to treat due to the presence of neural scars. To achieve this, the team plans to combine polylaminin with other drugs that modify that environment and facilitate regeneration. The process has a unique translational nature: it ranged from basic studies of proteins to clinical trials in humans, passing through cellular and animal models.
### An Alternative to Stem Cells
Unlike stem cell therapies, which still raise doubts about their behavior in the body, polylaminin offers greater clinical control, simpler production, and lower cost. This could make it an accessible tool within the medical field. Although regulatory trials are still pending, hope is on the horizon: the possibility of quadriplegic individuals regaining mobility is no longer a distant dream but a near reality.
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