Emerging drugs for spinal cord injury.
BACKGROUND
This review summarizes several promising pharmacological approaches for the therapeutic management of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), which are either in early-phase clinical trials or nearing clinical translation.


OBJECTIVE
This review provides the reader with an understanding of the key pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to neurological deficits after SCI. Through discussion of the mechanism(s) of action of the selected therapeutic approaches potentially important targets to aid further drug discovery will be highlighted.


METHODS
Systematic literature review of the pre-clinical literature and clinical SCI trials related to neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and regenerative therapeutic approaches.


CONCLUSIONS
The next decade will witness an unprecedented number of clinical trials which will seek to translate key biomedical research discoveries. The promising drug-based therapeutic approaches include regenerative strategies to neutralize myelin-mediated neurite outgrowth inhibition, neuroprotective strategies to reduce apoptotic triggers, the targeting of cationic/glutamatergic toxicity, anti-inflammatory strategies and the use of approaches to stabilize disrupted cell membranes.
Baptiste
Darryl C
DC
Toronto Western Hospital, Division of Cellular & Molecular Biology, Toronto Western Research Institute and Krembil Neuroscience Centre, 12th Floor Room 407 McLaughlin Pavilion, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
Fehlings
Michael G
MG
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers