A drug being tested in the battle against cancer is showing promise for the treatment of spinal injuries, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University.
Of 26 mice with spinal cord injuries, 24 recovered the ability to walk within 12 days after treatment with the drug CM101, according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published Tues-day. One died and one remained paralyzed.By comparison, of 14 mice with similar injuries that did not receive the drug, eight died and none of the six survivors recovered the function of paralyzed limbs.
"We are encouraged by the research," said Thomas Countee Jr., executive director of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
But he said a lot of work remains to be done before the results might be extended to humans.