Spinal Cord Injury Breakthrough: Antibody Therapy Shows Promise in Clinical Trial
An international research team has demonstrated that a novel antibody therapy can accelerate healing and restore function after acute spinal cord injury.
"The advanced imaging methods allowed us to show directly how the antibody therapy works in the spinal cord."
— Patrick Freund, Professor at UZH and Head of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Balgrist University Hospital
Key Findings
A multinational clinical trial, completed in late 2024 by the University of Zurich (UZH) and Balgrist University Hospital, has yielded promising results for patients with acute spinal cord injuries.
- The therapy: Patients received a novel antibody called NG101.
- The target: NG101 neutralizes the protein Nogo-A, which normally inhibits nerve fiber regeneration after injury.
- Measurable results: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that NG101 accelerated healing of spinal cord lesions and significantly reduced the loss of nerve tissue.
- Functional recovery: The treatment supported the regrowth of nerve fibers and the re-establishment of connections between the spinal cord and peripheral nerves controlling hand, arm, and leg function.
The Science Behind NG101
Discovered at UZH approximately 30 years ago, NG101 works by neutralizing Nogo-A, a protein found in nerve fiber sheaths that blocks the body's natural healing process after a spinal cord injury.
Previous animal experiments established a critical principle: newly formed nerve fibers must navigate around the injury site to successfully restore the brain-spinal cord pathways that control movement.
A Direct Look at Recovery
Professor Patrick Freund emphasized that advanced imaging was key to this breakthrough.
Surviving and newly regenerated nerve fibers can re-establish connections with spinal cord centers controlling hand, arm, and leg nerves. This reconnection is essential for relaying brain signals to muscles, potentially restoring voluntary movement.
The research findings have been published by the team, led by Patrick Freund, professor at UZH and head of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Balgrist University Hospital.