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Anti-LINGO-1 (or opicinumab) was an antibody treatment being developed for MS. In October 2020, Biogen announced the Phase 2 AFFINITY study of opicinumab (anti-LINGO) in MS wasn't successful and they were no longer developing the drug. 

Current phase of trial:
Not currently being trialled

How it works: LINGO is a protein found in nerve cells and the cells that make myelin. Blocking the activity of this protein with anti-LINGO-1 has been shown to result in myelin repair in animals with an MS-like condition.

About Anti-LINGO-1

How is Anti-LINGO-1 taken?

Anti-LINGO-1 is an intravenous infusion.

Latest Anti-LINGO-1 research

AFFINITY phase 2 trial

This phase 2 trial began in 2017 and aims to test if anti-LINGO-1 slows worsening of disability in relapsing MS. The trial is expected to involved 240 people with relapsing MS who are already taking a disease modifying therapy (DMT), and will compare anti-LINGO-1 to a placebo.

In October 2020, the company announced the study hadn't met its goals and they'd no longer be developing the drug. 

SYNERGY phase 2 trial

This phase 2 trial tested the safety and benefits of anti-LINGO-1 in relapsing MS. In June 2016 Biogen reported that anti-LINGO-1 had failed to improve measures of physical and cognitive function, or disability.

This trial involved 416 people who took different doses of anti-LINGO-1, or a placebo, once every 4 weeks for 72 weeks on top of weekly beta-interferon injections.

RENEW trial - optic neuritis

In this phase 2 trial anti-LINGO-1 improved signalling along the optic nerve by 41% compared with placebo. The trial involved 82 people who had experienced a first episode of acute optic neuritis. They took either six doses of anti-LINGO-1 or a placebo infusion over six months. Results were published in March 2017.

What are the side-effects of Anti-LINGO-1?

Some adverse effects of MS were reported in the RENEW trial: two people experienced hypersensitivity reactions to the infusion itself, while one person had an increase in liver enzymes (which was resolved by stopping the treatment).

How does Anti-LINGO-1 compare with current therapies?

Anti-LINGO-1 hasn’t yet been directly compared with other treatments for MS, so it isn't possible to draw conclusions about its relative effectiveness at this time.

When is Anti-LINGO-1 likely to become available?

In October 2020, Biogen announced the Phase 2 AFFINITY study of opicinumab (anti-LINGO) in MS wasn't successful and they'd no longer be developing the drug.