A recent drug discovery could eventually help the visually impaired and those suffering from multiple sclerosis, traumatic stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease regain some of their vision and mental capacity. The research delves deep into thyromimetic LL-341070 and how it can help enhance the brain’s ability to heal. Here’s what you need to know.
Myelin
To grasp the importance of this medical breakthrough, it’s vital to first understand how myelin serves a crucial role in your bodily functions and brain activity. Myelin acts as insulation around nerve fibers. It’s an important part of the nervous system that helps to enhance synaptic transmission. Consequently, it’s a critical component of your central nervous system (CNS) function and brain function.
Oligodendrocytes
Oligodendrocytes are what produce myelin in your body. Only certain adapted glial cells can create myelin by extending their processes in layers over the axons. Axons are the slender ends of the nerve cell that conduct electrical impulses to communicate. When oligodendrocytes die, you lose the ability to make Myelin.
Demyelination
Demyelination is a term that refers to the loss or damage of existing myelin, impairing nerve function. Normally, there’s some loss of myelin associated with aging, however, it can be an indication of other ailments like MS. Research has shown that a loss of myelin causes reduced motor skills, sensory interpretation, and cognitive impairment.
Notably, neocortical gray matter demyelination has been shown to induce neural dysfunction. Additionally, it contributes to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and other serious ailments. As such, protecting myelin has been a major priority for medical researchers for years.
Remyelination
The term remyelination refers to repairing myelin health. Notably, the body can repair and create more myelin when damaged. In the remyelination process, oligodendrocytes serve an essential role, creating new myelin to replenish losses. Research has shown that reduced or damaged oligodendrocytes will result in slower recovery times. Additionally, it can lead to the body never fully restoring its myelin levels.
Slow and Inefficient
The more damage done to your oligodendrocytes the slower the healing process. Researchers have noted that severe oligodendrocyte loss will result in an inability to restore the oligodendrocyte population. This scenario can lead to neurological and cognitive decline.
Importance of Intervention
Recognizing that patients with extra oligodendrocyte damage need assistance to get their bodies back to their optimal operating state, more medical professionals have come forth to express the importance of intervention with severe injury. By developing remyelination therapies that restore neural function, scientists can significantly improve vision-related brain functions and reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Myelin Regeneration Study
A recently published study in the journal Nature Communications called “Incomplete remyelination via therapeutically enhanced oligodendrogenesis is sufficient to recover visual cortical function“1 sheds light on the intricate interactions that make endogenous and therapeutic-induced cortical remyelination possible. It delves into the use of thyromimetics (LL-341070) as a way to boost the brain’s ability to repair damaged oligodendrocytes and restore vision health.
Myelin Test
To test their concept, researchers began with lab mice. These rodents were between 9-10 weeks of age and were fed a special mixture of food for 3.5 weeks. The mix included the copper chelator, Cuprizone. Notably, Cuprizone is known to cause delamination and oligodendrocyte loss when ingested.
After the feeding period, the mice were returned to normal diet for 7 weeks before researchers tested their remyelination results. They noticed a stark difference in the mice that lost over 50% of their oligodendrocytes. These mice were unable to successfully replenish the lost myelin at the same rate as others.
LL-341070
The next step was to introduce thyromimetic LL-341070 therapy to the test subjects. Notably, LL-341070 enters the central nervous system as an inactive prodrug. Then, it hydrolyzes into an active form that is received by TRβ receptors directly.
Source – Nature Communications
Notably, the mice received daily treatments for three weeks. Specifically, 0.3 mg/kg or 0.1 mg/kg LL-341070 dosages were used. From there, the team tracked the progress of the treatment using in vivo two-photon microscopy and electrophysiology.
Myelin Regeneration Study Results
An examination of the dynamics of cortical demyelination in the test mice revealed some interesting results. They noticed that LL-341070 accelerated the repair process. In the 7-week test period, it was discovered that low-dose treated mice regained more new oligodendrocytes than when they received vehicle-treated or high-dose LL-341070 treatments.
The healed mice demonstrated improved brain function related to vision as well. The data revealed that a low-dose LL-341070 therapy enhances the repair process following serious damage to myelin. They also noted that vision regeneration could occur even with partial remyelination, meaning before myelin levels were fully restored.
Myelin Regeneration Study Benefits
There are many benefits gained by learning more about remyelination. For one, this research has shed light on the structure-function relationships during the de/remyelination processes. The data accumulated from these tests will help advance medical understanding of the nervous system and its impact on improving recovery.
Future Therapeutic Strategies
The myelin study data will help medical professionals create more effective therapeutic strategies. Myelin serves a vital role in brain functionality. As such, giving patients the ability to build this vital sheath is an important first step in helping those with visual and mental disorders live more fulfilling lives.
Myelin Regeneration Study Researchers
The myelin regeneration study was led by researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Ethan Hughes, PhD, Daniel Denman, PhD, and many others put in significant effort to make the research a success. Now, the team seeks to expand its efforts and refine the treatments.
BioTech Innovators
Several companies could gain an edge thanks to this recent discovery. The healthcare industry has put forth billions in trying to prevent cognitive decline and vision loss associated with myelin reduction. Now, there is a solution that could revolutionize treatments moving forward. While not associated with this particular study, here is one example of a company quickly making a name for itself within the field of BioTech.
Clene Inc. (CLNN +5.26%) was founded in 2020 and went public following its merger with Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd. The company focuses on providing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and remyelination-related projects.
Clene Inc. offers experimental but innovative solutions to major medical conditions. Its creative efforts have the potential to restore balance to millions affected by neurological diseases and other ailments. As such, analysts see the stock as a strong “hold” due to its position and earning potential surrounding its future remyelination treatments.
Myelin Regeneration Study Pushes Understanding Forward
Seeing how myelin serves a crucial role in your vision and cognitive health, it’s important that you do everything you can to protect it. Those suffering from myelin loss may one day get some relief that could help them regain normalcy in their lives. For now, hats off to this research team for taking the world closer to healing these patients.
Learn about other cool Biotech developments here.
Study Reference:
1. Della-Flora Nunes, G., Osso, L. A., Haynes, J. A., et al. (2025). Incomplete remyelination via therapeutically enhanced oligodendrogenesis is sufficient to recover visual cortical function. Nature Communications, 16, 732. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56092-6