Brazil advances experimental spinal cord injury therapies

A small early‑stage study of the synthetic polymer polylaminina, conducted in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói hospitals between 2016 and 2021, reported functional improvements in six of eight patients with severe spinal‑cord injuries. The research, led by biologist Tatiana Coelho de Sampaio of UFRJ, noted three unrelated deaths and emphasized that larger, controlled trials are needed. In January 2024, Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa authorized the first regulatory clinical trials of polylaminina, beginning with five volunteers in São Paulo, while compassionate use has already reached 105 patients.

Separately, a pre‑clinical investigation by researchers at the University of São Paulo demonstrated that stem cells derived from the nasal olfactory mucosa can promote neuronal regeneration in rats with acute spinal‑cord contusion. The collaborative work across USP’s functional genomics, trauma, and pathology labs reported significant recovery in the animal model, suggesting a potential new avenue for human therapy.