A new treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) utilizing a C1q blocker has shown promising results when administered shortly after injury. Researchers from the Gladstone Institute discovered that blocking the C1q molecule in the Thalamus can prevent chronic neuronal loss, inflammation, sleep disruption, and the development of epileptic spikes. This treatment, developed by Annexon Biosciences, is currently in clinical trials for ALS and may expand to TBI if results are favorable. The study highlights the urgent need for effective therapies for the 69 million individuals affected by TBI globally each year.
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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- From battlefield explosions, to violent sports injuries, millions of patients suffer the lifetime effects of traumatic brain injuries. Treating the symptoms is often a frustrating challenge.
Now, there's hope for a possible breakthrough.
"What we found is that after the traumatic brain injuries, there is an up-regulation in this molecule called C1q, and especially in a deep brain area called the Thalamus. And when we blocked this molecule we were able to prevent the chronic neuronal loss, and the chronic inflammation and the sleep disruption and the development of epileptic spikes," Paz explains.
In other words, major symptoms of TBI.
The blocker they used was an antibody, being developed by South San Francisco-based Annexon Biosciences. Ted Yednock, Ph.D., is chief innovation officer.
"In traumatic brain injury, there aren't really any available therapies, especially any that prevent the neurodegenerative process from happening. So what's really interesting about Dr. Paz's study, is that even 24 hours after the injury, she found that she could treat, use our treatment to block this process," says Yednock.The company is already conducting clinical trials of the inhibitor for treating ALS and other conditions and could potentially expand to TBI in the future if the results are encouraging. And with causes ranging from car crashes to simple falls, some 69 million people around the world are believed to suffer from traumatic brain injury every year.