SUMMARY

Minocycline is thought to inhibit cell death in the central nervous system by reducing the activity of proapoptotic and proinflammatory enzymes, and has been shown to be neuroprotective in animal models of stroke, trauma and a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. In a transgenic mouse model of ALS (motor neurone disease), several independent studies have shown minocycline to prolong survival by 10–22 % and to diminish the loss of motoneurones. Minocycline was approved more than 35 years ago by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of bacterial infections, and importantly is known to cross the blood-brain barrier following a standard oral dose. Phase II trials suggested minocycline was safe when given to patients with ALS, and several phase II and III trials ar