Scots scientists are testing two drugs which they hope could provide a vital lifeline for motor neurone disease patients.
Experts hope the drugs could help halt the progression of MND and they have already come through first-stage testing.
A second stage trial is under way with results expected by next spring.
Memantine, already licensed for the treatment of confusion related to Alzheimer’s disease, and antidepressant medicine Trazodone are being investigated by scientists from Edinburgh’s Euan MacDonald Centre.
MND has claimed the lives of Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone in 2006, former Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen in 2019 and comedian Ronnie Corbett in 2016. Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir was diagnosed in 2017.
Suvankar Pal, consultant neurologist and clinical service lecturer at Edinburgh University, said: “What we can say at this stage is the drugs are safe.
“For regulatory approval we need definitive results so we need a longer term of follow-up.”
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