Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory
disease of the central nervous system, affecting
2.3 million people in our world.
MS is as an immune-mediated disease, where
the immune system attacks the protective myelin
sheath which covers nerve fibers, causing
communication issues between your brain and
the rest of your body.
Eventually, the disease can cause nerves to
deteriorate or become permanently damaged.
Currently there is no cure for MS, however
Dr. Su Metcalfe and her company, LIFNano are
hoping to change that.
Since there is no cure for the autoimmune-like
disease, the method of action for people with
MS is to suppress the immune system with pharmaceuticals.
Since the brain cannot be repaired, such as
other vital organs, and the high price tag
on MS drugs also come with a list of side
effects, Su is working to find a solution.
The Potential Cure
After discovering a small binary switch which
regulates inside the immune cells.
Su is now working with a stem-cell particle
called LIF, which has the potential to control
the cell and ensure it doesn’t attack healthy
bodily tissues, while still protecting us
and releasing an attack when needed.
LIF stem-cell particles are a form of regenerative
medicine, playing a role in tissue repair
while keeping the brain and spinal cord healthy.
Su’s approach is what she calls a “double
whammy”, she’s finding a way to reverse
the autoimmunity, and also repair the damage
caused in the brain.”
After celebrating her discovery, she hit a
snag, she found that LIF could only survive
for 20-minutes before being broken down by
the body, meaning there would not be enough
time for the therapeutic actions to deploy.
This is where the technology of nanoparticles
came in.
The Role of Nanoparticles
A combination of LIF and nanoparticles are
compatible with the body, and they slowly
dissolve like soluble stitches.
The nanoparticles become the delivery device
which administers the LIF over a period of
five days.
As Su states “the nanoparticle itself is
a protective environment, and the enzymes
that break it down can’t access it.
You can also decorate the surface of the particles
with antibodies, so it becomes a homing device
that can target specific parts of the brain.
So you get the right dose, in the right place,
and at the right time.”
The particles themselves were developed at
Yale University, but LIFNano has the worldwide
license to deploy them, and Su believes we
are on the verge of some groundbreaking medicine.
How Nano-Medicine is Helping
She says: “Nano-medicine is a new era, and
big pharma has already entered this space
to deliver drugs while trying to avoid the
side effects.
The quantum leap is to actually go into biologics
and tap into the natural pathways of the body.
“We’re not using any drugs, we’re simply
switching on the body’s own systems of self-tolerance
and repair.
There aren’t any side effects because all
we’re doing is tipping the balance.
Auto-immunity happens when that balance has
gone awry slightly, and we simply reset that.
Once you’ve done that, it becomes self-sustaining
and you don’t have to keep giving therapy,
because the body has its balance back.”
LIFNano has already attracted two major funding
awards, from drug firm Merck and the Government’s
Innovate UK agency.
Su hopes to attract more investment in her
work, with the aim of starting clinical trials
in 2020.
“We’ve got everything we need in place
to make the nanoparticles in a clinically
compliant manner, it’s just a case of flicking
the switch when we have the money.
We’re looking at VCs and big pharma because
they have a strong interest in this area.
We’re doing all our pre-clinical work concurrently
while bringing in the major funds the company
needs to go forward in its own right.”
Working with immune cells has been a big part
of Su’s career, she is passionate about
the subject.
“The immune cell is the only single cell
in the body that is its own unity, so it functions
alone.
It’s probably one of the most powerful cells
in the body because it can kill you, and if
you haven’t got it you die because you haven’t
got it.”
While MS is her focus at the moment, this
work will “lead into other major autoimmune
disease areas.”
I think we’re all looking forward to the
future with Su and her works with LIFNano.
She also states that “Psoriasis is high
up on our list, and diabetes is another.
Downstream from there are all the dementias
since LIF is a major health factor for the
brain – if we can get it into the brain
we can start protecting against dementia.”
Her research is significant and inspiring.
You can follow along with LIFNano’s research
and progress,
Please take a moment and consider sharing
this video with your friends and family.
Thank you, we appreciate it!
