A phase three trial has been launched to see if statins can successfully treat secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, it has been announced.
More than 1,000 patients are expected to take part in the six-year study £6 million study involving the drug simvastatin.
The project follows a successful phase 2 trial of the drug. Published in 2014, this suggested that treatment with the statin improved disability scores.
Researchers say the trial suggested that the drug reduced the rate of brain atrophy over two years.
Dr Jeremy Chataway, who is leading the project at University College, London, said: “This drug holds incredible promise for the thousands of people living with secondary progressive MS in the UK, and around the world, who currently have few options for treatments that have an effect on disability.
“This study will establish definitively whether simvastatin is able to slow the rate of disability progression over a three year period, and we are very hopeful it will.”
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of the MS Society, which is backing the research, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be co-funding the simvastatin trial. This is an absolutely momentous step forward in our quest to find an effective treatment for progressive MS."
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