New drug could reverse the damage of MS

an interesting start, but a long way to go. But myelin repair suggests hope.

"Hope springs eternal"!  Appears this is only "early days" in this research and not sure if/when this will be available in the UK/Europe and unsure if there are any contra-indications or adverse side effects but equally believe it is vitally important that research is continually pursued.  In the meantime, let's all keep endeavouring to most positively manage our day-to-day symptoms and fully embrace both our good and bad days and make each day the best we can. 

Is it this trial?

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT01721161?term=anti-LINGO-1&rank=1

https://beta.mssociety.ca/research-news/treatments-in-development/anti-lingo-1

If so - My thoughts are - This is really, really REALLY bad reporting. 

When myelin is damaged the body has a limited ability to repair it.  Lingo-1 stops the repair work. The drug anti-lingo-1 stops the production of lingo-1, potentially allowing the repair to continue longer that usual (or possibly allowing a repair to commence).  It does nothing to repair the damage or reduce the severity or likelihood of a relapse - it simply enhances the bodies natural ability to heal itself by allowing it a little longer to heal.

the number crunching says to me that repair time can be improved by about 10%. The implication is that for RRMS the drug can be administered post relapse. It may improve regeneration of myelin by about 10%. The results are generally reported as 'significant'. Which they are - to a statistician. 'Significant' simply means that the results are above the level of pure chance.

I am not a statistician - I am an MS sufferer - Show me 50%, 75% or 100% and I will allow the term 'significant'. 10% rates as a 'bit'. If there is a 10% of me being affected by a side affect then I am told 'there is a bit of a chance that you will get a bit of a headache.' So if I take anti-lingo-1 after a relapse there will be 'a bit of a chance that I will get a bit of an improvement in myelin repair.'

This: 

Scientists say that crucially the new results prove that anti-LINGO-1 can repair myelin, and so should help people with MS.

and this:

But a new drug, called anti-LINGO-1, has been found to repair myelin, ... completely restoring function in some cases.

are to me factually wrong - and dangerous. Anti-lingo-1 does not repair myelin. Lingo-1 inhibits the repair of myelin. Anti-lingo-1 inhibits the production of Lingo-1. From the results of the trial - the best that can be inferred is that the drug - in some cases - can lift a 90% recovery to 99%. Or a 61%recovery  to 67.61%. Or a 1% recovery to 1.1% recovery.  It is not evidence that a patient with no prospect of any recovery from a bout of Optic Neuritis can take the drug and end up completely recovered.