A team of neuroscientists published new research that uncovered a mechanism that controls the reactivation of neural stem cells, which are crucial for repairing and regenerating brain cells (the source of the brain’s primary functional cells).

You see, after the initial development of the brain, neural stem cells typically enter a dormant state, only reawakening when the brain needs them, such as after an injury or with physical exercise.

However, with age, fewer neural stem cells can be roused from their dormant state, leading to various neurological conditions. Understanding how this reactivation is regulated is essential for developing treatments for various neurological conditions.

In this study, the team discovered that a specific group of proteins play an essential role in "waking up" dormant neural stem cells through a process called SUMOylation.

In SUMOylation, a small protein named SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) tags target proteins inside a cell to influence their activity and/or function. These SUMO-tagged proteins, the researchers found, trigger the reactivation of neural stem cells, allowing them to contribute to brain development and repair.  You can check out the published study here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52569-y

A Phase I/II clinical trial for a new Parkinson’s disease gene therapy met its primary endpoint. 

Conducted by MeiraGTx, a clinical-stage genetic medicine company, the study evaluated the company’s therapy over 26 weeks.  At week 26, the high dose group was found to have a statistically significant 18-point average improvement in their ‘off’ score on the Movement Disorder Society – Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III Parkinson’s disease measurement score.  

To be sure, a change of five to 10 points is typically considered “clinically meaningful,” so with an 18-point change, researchers are encouraged by these results. The company now expects to initiate a Phase III study next year.  Here’s more: https://investors.meiragtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/meiragtx-announces-positive-data-randomized-sham-controlled

Tryptamine Therapeutics announced that the Safety Review Council cleared its IV-infused psilocin formulation, TRP-8803, for the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder. 

The safety finding for TRP-8803 follows completion of the company’s Phase 1b study in healthy volunteers back in August.

The open-label study, which began in June, 2024, was conducted with therapist support, and  the company claims that this is the only time an IV-infused psilocin solution has been used anywhere in the world. 

Building on the success of the trial, Tryptamine will now shift its focus to the next phase of clinical development, including the design of Phase 2 trials. Check it out: https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/1058615/tryptamine-therapeutics-psilocybin-asset-trp-8803-clears-safety-test-following-phase-1b-trial-1058615.html

Did you know that psilocybin could improve locomotor behavior in a stroke brain?

A study published in BMC Neuroscience indicated that psilocybin reduced brain infarction and improved locomotor behavior in stroke rats.

Earlier studies have indicated that 5HT2A agonists, such as dimethyltryptamine (DMT), given before middle cerebral artery occlusion, improve staircase behavior, increased BDNF expression, and reduce brain infarction in stroke rats. The objective of this latest, however, was to determine the protective effect of psilocybin in cellular and animal models of stroke. Here’s what they found: https://bmcneurosci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12868-024-00903-x#Sec6