Euan MacDonald Centre for Research’s MND-SMART eliminates two drugs from trials

Our founder Euan set up the Euan MacDonald Centre in 2006, and we’re very proud that the centre facilitates the largest UK MND drug trial, MND-SMART.

MND-SMART was designed to test several drugs that might improve outcomes for people living with MND rapidly and efficiently. The team has opened 20 sites across the UK to make sure as many people can take part as possible and, since they launched in 2020, they’ve recruited almost 600 people from all over the UK. They began testing in the trial using two drugs called memantine and trazodone.

After regular data checking throughout the trial, the MND-SMART team and independent committees have discovered that there is no benefit from memantine and trazodone, and there is enough evidence to stop testing them. Although disappointing that the drugs aren’t going to be helpful for people living with MND, the good news is that the team and the trial can focus on testing new drugs now that they know these two drugs are not working.

The study is designed to introduce drugs efficiently as new evidence emerges from the drug screening programme. They started testing a third drug called amantadine in April this year and, excitingly, they’ll be introducing several new drugs in the trial in 2024 and 2025.

Every participant in the trial is helping the MND community; those who may be diagnosed in the future and those also affected right now around the world. Every blood sample, diary entry and trial assessment is making a difference.  The MND-SMART team will publish the findings so that everyone knows that memantine and trazodone do not need to be tested again, and the plan is to keep moving forward and test many more drugs until they find the ones that slow down and prolong survival for people living with MND.

The study has secured generous funding from the Alan Davidson Foundation which will enable them to continue to open new sites and expand their national infrastructure by supporting staff time and training, particularly in centres that are not currently active in MND trials, including district general hospitals.

Prior to the launch of MND-SMART, fewer than 5% of people living with MND in the UK participated in clinical trials. Now, since its launch in 2020, MND-SMART has recruited nearly 600 participants.

One of the team's goals is to deliver equitable, diverse and inclusive access to MND-SMART across the UK, irrespective of geography, ethnicity and socioeconomic background. To this end, there are now 20 trial sites open in all four home nations of the UK, and people from the Shetland Isles to the Isle of Wight have been able to take part.

One barrier to trial opportunities for people with MND is the shortage of dedicated and adequately trained research nurses/practitioners and neurologists.

Through this ever-expanding infrastructure they hope to promote MND-SMART participation particularly in ethnic minority, rural and deprived populations.

We’d like to extend our thanks to the Euan MacDonald Centre and the MND-SMART team for keeping everyone updated on their progress and look forward to hearing more news and for future tests and trials.

Tags: euan macdonald centre for mnd research, MND, MND SMART, Drug Trials, UK, mnd funding