by Dr. James W. Stark

1/12/15 - Biogen Idec has announced the interim results of their early phase trial with the medication, anti-Lingo-1, a drug that targets a protein involved in myelin regulation. The study is examining 32 patients with optic neuritis and is attempting to show actual repair of damaged nerve tissue with this treatment. The report states a 34% improvement in optic nerve processing time, but no change in nerve fiber layer thickness or visual acuity. However, the 34% does not reach statistical significance and, in fact, is lower when all patients in the study were fully included in the analysis. 

The trial is ongoing and final results are not expected until 2016. We will be following the data closely and hope to see more robust results in the future.