Scott Johnson President and Founder

October 1, 2007

LINGO-1 Antibody Promotes Myelin Repair

We are excited by today's  announcement from Biogen Idec about the latest findings related to myelin repair. According to a study published in this month's issue of Nature Medicine, researchers at Biogen Idec, the University of Hong Kong and the University of Science and Technology of China have determined in preclinical studies that LINGO-1, a molecule which normally acts to prevent myelination, can be blocked by a LINGO-1 antibody. By blocking LINGO-1 in laboratory animals, scientists were able to promote myelin repair and improve recovery. This announcement supports our own findings in 2005 of several other biological processes that may regulate myelin production and repair in the central nervous system (funded in part by Biogen Idec). We are advancing our research on those targets at this time. Biogen Idec's support of MRF and others interested in myelin repair lends further credibility to our own focus on the repair of myelin and the potential it holds for halting the progress of MS.

MRF Scientists Identify Molecular "Switches" Affecting Myelin Repair in Multiple Sclerosis (2005).

Myelin Repair Foundation Announces $250,000 Research Award from Biogen Idec (2005)

Sincerely,
Scott Johnson
President and Founder