Vesalic Limited, a UK-based biotechnology firm, has announced the discovery of a systemic metabolic dysfunction that may contribute to motor neuron diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The dysfunction produces toxic exosome cargo in patients, which is transported to the central nervous system (CNS) where it interacts with and damages neurons.
Building on this finding, Vesalic is developing a novel therapeutic designed to intercept and neutralize these harmful exosomes. The company is also exploring diagnostic tools based on this mechanism to improve disease detection and monitoring.
**Why this matters**
This discovery shifts the focus from the CNS alone to systemic factors involved in motor neuron diseases, potentially opening new avenues for treatment. By targeting the source of toxic exosomes outside the CNS, Vesalic’s approach could lead to therapies that slow or prevent neuronal damage in ALS and related conditions. Improved diagnostics may also enable earlier intervention and better patient outcomes.
Source: NewsData