https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/05/18/kurt-warner-concussion-treatment-experimental-drug-cte-nfl/623057002/
Prevacus is a company founded by neuroscientist Jake VanLandingham, a former Florida State University Medical School professor. It has produced a drug called Prevasol which is delivered as a nasal spray minutes after a mild head injury (concussion) is suffered.
In tests on rats, the drug has reduced brain inflammation and swelling, according to the company. If the drug works on humans, it could reduce the chances that someone suffering a concussion might develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease that can cause depression, mood disorders and cognitive changes.
Ideally, the drug could be administered by an athletic trainer, an emergency medical technician, a medic, a school nurse or other health provider as soon as possible after a brain injury has been suffered.
The drug can be safely administered twice a day for 14 days, said VanLandingham, who envisions it might one day be available over the counter and carried by parents, youth league coaches and others.
“It gets into your brain in less than five minutes,” VanLandingham said. “It diffuses throughout all areas of your brain in less than 30 minutes. It reduces swelling, inflammation and what’s known as oxidated stress all at the same time.”
But it’s unknown if the drug will work on humans. Testing has been approved, and the company is in the process of raising the $3.5 million it costs to run the first phase of human trials.
VanLandingham is hopeful that testing will begin by Labor Day. If the first phase goes well, there will be additional testing; it would be at least three years before the drug is on the market.
Those are huge hurdles to clear, however.
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