A new nasal spray treatment called foralumab may offer hope for those living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Mass General Brigham researchers recently completed a phase 1 clinical trial of foralumab, which shows promise in reducing MS symptoms and improving the quality of life for those affected by this condition.

“Our research into this new nasal antibody treatment represents a significant step forward in managing MS symptoms,” says Tanuja Chitnis, MD, FAAN, director of the Translational Neuroimmunology Research Center at Mass General Brigham. “It has the potential to improve the lives of many patients by reducing inflammation and enhancing physical function.”

Chitnis, who also serves as director of the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center and co-director of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital MS Center, has dedicated her career to helping patients with MS at every stage of life. She is at the forefront of groundbreaking research on new treatments.

What is MS and how could foralumab help?

MS is a neurological condition that makes the immune system attack the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. This causes damage to myelin, the protective layer around nerve fibers, which leads to disrupted communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Over time, this damage can worsen and may cause serious physical and neurological problems.

MS typically develops between the ages of 20 and 40 and affects women more often than men. The course of the disease varies, but it often involves periods of worsening followed by partial recovery, or in some cases, a steady decline in function.

Mass General Brigham researchers are studying foralumab, a nasal spray that targets the immune system to help protect nerves and slow down disease progression. Chitnis and her team are testing foralumab’s effectiveness in treating secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a more advanced stage of MS where symptoms worsen continuously without remission.

Foralumab is a type of monoclonal antibody, which is a lab-created protein designed to replicate the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful cells. Monoclonal antibodies have been successfully used to treat conditions like cancer and migraines. Researchers are also studying how foralumab may help manage other inflammation-driven diseases, including COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease, by reducing inflammation and protecting nerve cells.

This story originally appeared on massgeneralbrigham.org. Read the full article to learn more.