METriC: Treatment of epilepsy in dogs with an antisense oligonucleotide against miRNA-134
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study: Help for dogs and people with epilepsy who do not respond to common antiepileptic drugs:
Epilepsy in dogs Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs. Up to one-third of epileptic dogs do not respond to conventional antiepileptic drugs, which impairs their quality of life and causes significant anxiety for their owners.
Epilepsy in humans Temporal lobe epilepsy is an acquired form of epilepsy resulting from a complex mix of cellular and molecular alterations. It is the most common type of epilepsy in adults, and, as in dogs, up to one-third of epileptic patients do not respond to conventional antiepileptic drugs. Therefore, there is a need for new medications that work differently.
What is a clinical research study? Clinical trials evaluate medical treatments to ensure they are safe and effective before being approved and released to the general public. These trials are carefully designed and monitored, with the safety of the dogs being the top priority.
About this study This study will test the safety and efficacy of a new drug in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy that do not respond to conventional antiepileptic drugs. This drug has not been used previously in either dogs or humans.
The study drug The study drug (called Ant-134) suppresses a molecule called miRNA-134. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate protein levels in cells. The brain expresses several unique miRNAs that are crucial for development and function, including the regulation of neuronal structures such as dendritic spines and thus influencing synaptic transmission. Initial results in other species showed long-lasting seizure control without side effects. It is administered as a single injection into the cerebrospinal fluid under general anesthesia.
Is your dog suitable for the study?
Your dog with epilepsy must meet the following criteria to participate in the study:
Age: over 2 years; Weight: over 5 kg; Diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy with a normal MRI and unremarkable cerebrospinal fluid; More than 4 seizures per month, despite the use of at least two antiepileptic drugs; Otherwise considered healthy; Random assignment: The dogs are randomly assigned (as in a coin toss) to one of the study groups. One group receives the study drug, the other a placebo. The placebo looks exactly like the study drug but contains no active ingredient. Neither the dog owner nor the study veterinarian knows who receives the study drug and who receives the placebo. At the end of the study, the study drug is offered to the dogs that received the placebo if there is evidence of its safety and efficacy.
Your responsibility: Participation in the study is voluntary. Before your dog participates, you will read and sign a consent form agreeing to your dog's participation. This is not a contract, and you may withdraw from the study at any time for any reason.
You must attend the study appointments at the Small Animal Hospital of the University of Glasgow. You must also record your dog's seizures and send us this information once a month.
Dates:
Treatment day: Your dog will stay in the hospital for at least 2 days. Day 15: Day visit. Day 45: Day visit. Day 90: Day visit. Day 180: Day visit. Costs: The study medication and all study-related procedures are provided FREE OF CHARGE.
Benefits of participating: Clinical trials offer hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. This study provides the opportunity to gain new knowledge that could potentially help many dogs and perhaps even people with epilepsy in the future.
More information about previous studies:
https://www.nature.com/articles/nm.2834
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396419304438
Here is the link to the study from the University of Glasgow: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/sah/referralhospital/services/neurology/epilepsyclinicaltrial/#:~:text=About%20this%20study,in%20dogs%20or%20humans%20before.
Summary of a new study on epilepsy in dogs from the University of Glasgow
Epilepsy in dogs is a serious problem, and the METriC study addresses precisely this issue. Epilepsy affects up to one-third of all affected animals that do not respond to conventional medications. The study focuses on canine epilepsy to develop new treatment methods. Because epilepsy significantly impacts a dog's quality of life, the search for more effective therapies is crucial.
Research on epilepsy in dogs shows that innovative treatments like Ant-134 are urgently needed. Epilepsy in dogs is often treated with conventional medications, but their effectiveness is limited. Studying epilepsy in dogs is also expected to lead to advances in the treatment of human epilepsy. Epilepsy in dogs thus provides a model for medical research.
Understanding epilepsy in dogs is essential for developing new therapies. Epilepsy in dogs is similar to the human condition in many ways, so the study's findings are far-reaching. Treating epilepsy in dogs with Ant-134 could be revolutionary, as current treatments are limited. Using canine epilepsy as a model offers new perspectives in neurological research.
Effectively treating epilepsy in dogs would improve the lives of many dogs and their owners. Research into canine epilepsy is therefore a crucial step towards improving animal health. Epilepsy in dogs has not only physical but also emotional impacts on the animals and their owners. Therefore, research into canine epilepsy is of great importance to the veterinary community. Canine epilepsy is a complex field, and studies like METriC are essential for its understanding and treatment.