Gold: An Effective Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis Patients
An American medical company has announced a new drug, made from nanocrystals of gold, targeting patients with multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at the company, based in South Carolina, have developed an experimental drug called “CNM-Au8”, a liquid taken orally, which crosses the blood-brain barrier to help improve cellular energy and restore nerve function, according to the Bahrain News Agency.
Dr. Robert C. Sergott, head of the neuro-ophthalmology department at Wills Eye Hospital, said that multiple sclerosis drugs treat inflammation, but some symptoms persist without inflammation, due to a condition called “progression independent of relapse activity” (PIRA).
He added: “Our theory is that if we can give mitochondria (the parts of cells responsible for their energy supply) an extra boost, then nerve cells and other cells in the central nervous system may function better.”
He explained: “In other words, these cells may not be dead, but rather dormant, and furthermore, gold nanoparticles also treat rheumatoid arthritis inflammation.”
Scientists at the American pharmaceutical company conducted a clinical trial on 78 participants in Australia, and after 3 years, “patients showed clinical improvement in their visual function and cognitive abilities,” they said.
