Lito Sousa to receive experimental Creutzfeldt-Jakob treatment

Influencer and pilot Lito Sousa is set to receive an experimental treatment, ALN-6457, for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative condition. The medication, developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, was flown from New York to Brazil via an American Airlines flight and transported by helicopter from Guarulhos International Airport to Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein to preserve its therapeutic potential.

The import was authorized by Anvisa on an exceptional basis for compassionate use. Because the drug has not yet undergone formal human clinical trials, its efficacy and side effects remain uncertain. The treatment utilizes small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology to target the PRNP gene, aiming to reduce the production of healthy prion proteins. The goal is to decrease the availability of the protein that, when misfolded, triggers the progressive destruction of nerve cells.

To facilitate the urgent delivery, the Brazilian Federal Revenue and Anvisa coordinated a specialized customs clearance process, allowing the medication to be released within minutes of the aircraft's arrival.