MSWA Bulletin Magazine Spring 2021

This research project is investigating
the bacteria within the gut and the
relationship between gut health
and clinical indicators of HD such
as mood, weight, and thinking and
memory.
“Our study is completely remote,
meaning that participants can
do the study from home. We use
online questionnaires, cognitive
tasks via mobile app and telehealth,
and ask for a faecal sample to be
sent by post.
Results of this research will provide
the knowledge we need about
the HD gut to make lifestyle
recommendations and inform
other interventions that can help
with gastrointestinal symptoms (eg,
change in diet, taking supplements
such as probiotics).”
This research project is funded by
the Huntington’s Disease Society of
America HD Human Biology Project
Fellowship awarded to Dr Yifat
Glikmann-Johnston.
FROM MND AUSTRALIA
Read more at: mndaustralia.org.au
Phase 2/3 of the Copper-ATSM
clinical trial will soon commence
at Macquarie University, Sydney
and then at other sites across
Australia.
The first clinical trial of copper-ATSM
as a potential treatment option
for motor neurone disease (MND)
started recruiting in November
2016.
Copper-ATSM therapy was developed
in Australia. Research has shown
copper-ATSM can protect motor
neurones in the spinal cord, improve
MND-like symptoms, and extend
the lifespan of mice with a mutated
form of SOD1. It is more effective in
mutant SOD1 mice than riluzole (the
only approved treatment for MND).
Phase 1 of the study, conducted at
two sites in Australia, identified a
safe dosage of copper-ATSM.
The phase 2/3 trial will commence
initially at Macquarie University
in Sydney and then at other sites
across Australia. Anyone interested
in taking part in the trial will need to
contact their neurologist to discuss
suitability and eligibility.
Phase 1 of the study recruited
participants who have been
diagnosed with sporadic or familial
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Research to date has been
conducted on familial MND animal
models. There is no animal model
for sporadic MND. However, in 2015
Peter Crouch and colleagues at The
University of Melbourne and the
Florey Institute found MND-affected
tissues obtained from people who
died because of sporadic MND had
important similarities to mice that
responded to copper-ATSM. This
suggests that copper-ATSM may
have activity in both sporadic and
familial MND.
A possible treatment resulting from
these studies is many years away.
Phase 1 determined a safe dose of
copper-ATSM. Data from this trial
guided researchers in setting up
the next phase of the trial.
The Phase 2 Cu-ATSM clinical trial
will involve 80 participants and
evaluate efficacy (whether the
compound works as intended) and
further evaluate safety. Patients
involved in this phase of the trial will
be randomly assigned Cu-ATSM or a
placebo for 6x28 day cycles.
Motor Neurone Disease Research
Australia has invested more than
$1.2 million to support three
projects that aim to assist
developing copper-ATSM as a
potential therapeutic for MND.
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