Antibody therapy helps people with incomplete paralysis

The University of Zurich(UZH) has announced a research success that could improve the lives of people with acute traumatic spinal cord injury. In a multinational antibody study, it was possible for the first time ever to identify a well-defined patient group that showed a clinically relevant treatment effect, namely people with incomplete paraplegia due to a spinal cord injury. The study was organized and conducted by UZH and the Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich in close collaboration with Heidelberg University Hospital.

The NG 101 antibody was investigated at 13 clinics in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Spain. It blocks and neutralizes the body's own protein Nogo-A. Nogo-A inhibits or prevents the regeneration of damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord in the event of an acute injury. Treatment with antibodies is intended to slow down these inhibitory mechanisms in the body and thus enable the regeneration of nerve tracts.

A total of 126 people between the ages of 18 and 70 with such a neck injury took part. Patients with complete paraplegia showed no improvement in the motor functions of the hand and arm. However, in the group with incomplete paraplegia, the antibody therapy reportedly led to "significant improvements" in their independence in everyday life. "The many years of research into antibodies in rehabilitation conducted under the leadership of Balgrist University Hospital are thus showing encouraging success," says UZH.

Further studies are now to confirm "these positive clinical findings, which have been achieved for the first time". A follow-up study with a further developed antibody has already been announced for December 2024. ce/mm