Repurposing calcium channel blockers

Summary

The clinical trial timeline could be accelerated by identifying and testing already approved treatments. In previous work, Prof Talbot’s team identified that that the calcium channel blocker, nisoldipine, could reduce damage in motor neurons caused by oxidative stress. In the study we are funding, Prof Talbot’s team will test a series of calcium channel blockers to determine whether this class of drugs are able to repair or reduce cellular damage. They will explore the pathways that might underlie the effects of these drugs and then test whether any effects are conserved in animal models of MND – the final step before human clinical trials.

Why this research is important

The calcium channel blockers that Prof Talbot is testing are already in clinical use and their safety has been established. If the treatments have beneficial effects on motor neurons, then they would be prioritised for clinical studies such as EXPERTS-ALS.

To find out more, read our in-depth article here.