A world-first clinical trial looking into existing drugs and how they could slow or stop disability worsening in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has begun recruitment at its first site.
The Octopus trial is the first multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) trial for the condition, and is recruiting participants with both primary and secondary progressive MS.
The trial, led by University College London, is currently testing two drugs already used in other conditions – metformin and alpha lipoic acid – after both showed potential in helping to protect nerves.
Octopus has opened at University College London Hospital, but will eventually be in operation in up to 30 sites across the UK.
Ailsa Guidi, who has secondary progressive MS, was one of the first participants to join Octopus.
So far, she has had two trial visits – a screening visit where it was established she met the criteria through blood tests and an MRI scan; and a visit where she took her dose of either one of the drugs or a placebo.
“I’m a positive person, but facing progressive MS feels quite different from living with the relapsing form,” says Ailsa, from Surrey.
“It’s a strange thing to say, but a family friend said to me, ‘It’s a good time to have MS as there’s so much happening in research’ and they’re right!
“My husband read about the Octopus trial in an MS Society newsletter last year. I said I had enough to focus on just managing my MS to sign up, so I asked him to do it instead.
“Since then, and after being accepted last month, I feel excited that I’m joining a long line of people who have helped progress MS research. Octopus has the potential to find treatments for people, like me, living with progressive MS – it’s given me hope.”
Octopus is being led by Professor Jeremy Chataway.
“The multi-arm, multi-stage approach to trialing emerging medications has been utterly transformative in other conditions. So I’m thrilled we’re now able to apply it to progressive MS,” says Prof Chataway.
“Ultimately, Octopus will lead to more treatments for progression becoming available to people living with MS sooner.
“Getting to this stage has been an incredible joint effort of people up and down the country. The other large trial I am chief investigator for, MS-STAT2, has shown we can run large-scale, nationwide trials for progressive MS.
“Now we’re taking it to the next level as we start a new journey to develop treatments for progressive MS. I know our amazing community of people is poised to help us make it to the top, so we can find the answers we so desperately need.”
Dr Emma Gray, assistant director of research at the MS Society, says: “Launching the world’s first multi-arm, multi-stage trial for MS has long been an ambition of ours. And opening the doors to Octopus is a momentous milestone.
“More than 130,000 people live with MS in the UK. And there are tens of thousands with progressive forms who have nothing to stop their MS getting worse. By tapping into the potential of approved drugs, which may have the potential to protect nerves, we can develop new treatments for MS faster.
“This is a major moment for MS research – Octopus has the potential to change the clinical trials landscape around the world. It’s thanks to all the wonderful participants that trials, like Octopus, can happen. We won’t stop until we have treatments that transform the lives of everyone with MS.”
Registration is still open for people wanting to take part in Octopus. Register interest here
