PRESS RELEASE
NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MASITINIB LIMITS NEURONAL DAMAGE IN A MODEL OF NEUROIMMUNE-DRIVEN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE
THIS IS THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION THAT MASITINIB CAN LOWER SERUM NEUROFILAMENT LIGHT CHAIN, AN IMPORTANT BIOMARKER FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
The neuroprotective action of masitinib was studied in an animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE). EAE is a model of neuroimmune-driven chronic neuroinflammation and importantly, neuronal damage, or prevention thereof, can be rapidly assessed by measuring serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentration in EAE-induced mice. Results showed that masitinib can significantly lower serum NfL levels, and by extension therefore, neuronal damage, in a neuroimmune-driven neurodegenerative disease model, with concomitant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines and slowing of clinical symptoms.
- Key points from this research article include:
- Masitinib treatment significantly limited NfL production in EAE mice with respect to the control group, at various timepoints during the 15-day treatment period and in a dose dependent manner.
- Masitinib significantly lowered several well-established pro-inflammatory cytokine biomarker concentrations in EAE mice.
- A beneficial effect of masitinib on functional performance was also observed, with significantly less relative deterioration in grip strength as compared with the control group.
- The measurement of NfL in biological fluids has been proposed for monitoring the therapeutic effect of drugs aimed at reducing axonal damage in various NDDs, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- EAE is a model of neuroimmune-driven chronic neuroinflammation and therefore highly relevant to masitinib's mechanism of action in NDDs.
- Data was derived after disease onset (i.e., in a therapeutic setting as opposed to an asymptomatic preventative setting), which is of greater relevance because such models more closely simulate the clinical condition of NDD patients and therefore better represent their therapeutic needs.
[1] Hermine O, Vermersch P, et al. Masitinib limits neuronal damage, as measured by serum neurofilament light chain concentration, in a model of neuroimmune-driven neurodegenerative disease. Preprint. bioRxiv 2024.03.07.583695; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.07.583695
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.07.583695v1.full.pdf+html
About the neurofilament light chain (NfL) biomarker
The measurement of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in biological fluids has been proposed for monitoring the therapeutic effect of drugs aimed at reducing axonal damage. NfL are cytoskeletal proteins that are highly specific for neurons in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system. NfL in cerebrospinal fluid or the bloodstream is therefore indicative of axonal lesions and/or degeneration and elevated NfL levels are associated with traumatic brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases (NDD), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. A growing body of literature shows that because the level of free NfL in serum/plasma directly reflects neuronal damage within the CNS, it can be used as a reliable and easily accessible marker of disease intensity and/or activity across a variety of neurological disorders.
About bioRxiv
bioRxiv (pronounced "bio-archive") is a free online archive and distribution service for unpublished preprints in the life sciences. It is operated by
About masitinib
Masitinib is a orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets mast cells and macrophages, important cells for immunity, through inhibiting a limited number of kinases. Based on its unique mechanism of action, masitinib can be developed in a large number of conditions in oncology, in inflammatory diseases, and in certain diseases of the central nervous system. In oncology due to its immunotherapy effect, masitinib can have an effect on survival, alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Through its activity on mast cells and microglia and consequently the inhibition of the activation of the inflammatory process, masitinib can have an effect on the symptoms associated with some inflammatory and central nervous system diseases and the degeneration of these diseases.
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- Masitinib NfL BioRxiv vENG VF
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