Multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common degenerative disease of the central nervous system in young adults, affects 2.9 million people worldwide and significantly impacts their quality of life. MS is an autoimmune disease leading to damage to myelin-producing cells and demyelinating lesions, which impair the function and integrity of neurons. Available immunomodulatory therapies can reduce the frequency of relapses but do not promote regeneration.

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a transdermal patch for the delivery of an activator of the epigenetic factor histone deacetylase 2. In several mouse models of demyelination, this activator was shown to significantly promote myelin regeneration. This funding is intended to enable the optimization and GMP-compliant manufacturing of the patch, as well as a Phase I clinical trial with healthy volunteers at the University Medical Center Mainz. This marks an important step toward accelerating clinical trials for remyelination in MS and potentially making the treatment available to patients.