Ali Karabulut - Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Pages

Boston Life Sciences -- INOSINE and AF-1

BLSI is developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as treatments for cancer, autoimmune disease, and central nervous system disorders. BLSI's products in development include: Altropane, a radioimaging agent for the diagnosis of PD and ADHD; Troponin I, a naturally-occurring anti-angiogenesis factor for the treatment of solid tumors; AF-1 and Inosine, nerve growth factors for the treatment of acute and chronic CNS disorders; novel therapies for the treatment of PD and ADHD; and transcription factors that may control the expression of molecules associated with autoimmune disease and allergies.

INOSINE and AF-1: Promoting the Regeneration of Nerve Connections in CNS Cells

What are INOSINE and AF-1?

Inosine and Axiogenesis Factor (AF-1) are nerve factors which specifically promote axon outgrowth in central nervous system (CNS) cells. We acquired the rights to Inosine and AF-1 from Children’s Medical Center in 1995. Since axons form the connections between nerve cells, we believe that AF-1 and Inosine could provide a means to regenerate those connections following CNS damage suffered in stroke or spinal cord injury. In addition to stroke and spinal cord injury, we believe that these compounds have the potential to treat other acute and chronic degenerative disorders of the CNS such as optic nerve injury, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Why has it been so difficult to treat victims of stroke and spinal cord injury?

Current therapies for stroke and spinal cord injury offer little or no hope for significant functional recovery. This is primarily due to the fact that unlike lower vertebrates, primates, including humans, are unable to independently regenerate damaged or destroyed nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, severe injuries to the spinal cord and brain generally result in permanent disability. In a limited way, other accessory nerve pathways can compensate for those that have been destroyed, resulting in limited recovery with rehabilitation, particularly after stroke. In contrast, peripheral nerves, such as those innervating in the limbs, can regenerate, although extremely slowly, resulting in the potential for substantial functional recovery with time. The question as to why peripheral nerves, but not CNS nerves, can regenerate has been one of the central questions in neurobiology. Much research effort has been devoted to identifying the factors that could explain the differences in regenerative potential between the peripheral and central nervous systems.

What Scientific Data is there to Indicate that Inosine and AF-1 Work?

We have reported, together with our collaborative scientists, some of the most significant accomplishments in the field of nerve regeneration published to date. We think that these results demonstrate that we are in the forefront in the search for potentially important regenerative agents for stroke and spinal cord injury.

The growth of new axons is necessary for recovery from spinal cord injury.

Animals treated with Inosine

• demonstrated up to 2500 newly grown axons

• 30% demonstrated more than 700 new axons

Untreated animals

• demonstrated less than 175 new axons

Inosine stimulates substantial regrowth of severed spinal cord motor nerve fibers.

Motor functions in humans is controlled by axons emanating from the motor cortex in the brain, which then descend in the spinal cord in the so-called “corticospinal tracts”. Cutting the corticospinal tract results in paralysis on that side. Treatment with Inosine, as demonstrated in in-vivo laboratory studies, appears to promote the growth and crossing over of new fibers from the uninjured to the injured side to repopulate the injured corticospinal tract.

Results of stroke study in an animal model demonstrate that Inosine administration results in functional recovery.

• Animals treated with Inosine recover more than 90% of their pre-stroke function.

• Untreated group remains effectively paralyzed.

Study demonstrating that Inosine treatment stimulates brain rewiring and improves function in animals following stroke published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Potential Patient Population for Inosine and AF-1 Includes:

• 750,000 The annual incidence of stroke

• 4,000,000 People living in the U.S. have suffered a stroke.

• 200,000 People living in the U. S. have spinal cord injury.

• 100,000 People, primarily young, suffer severe brain and spinal cord damage in auto accidents