Colorado, Jan. 25 -- Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found a promising therapeutic candidate that could aid in the restoration of vision in those suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The medicine, LL-341070, improves the brain's ability to repair damaged myelin--the protective sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. Myelin damage is a hallmark of disorders such as MS, as well as a normal consequence of aging, and it frequently causes visual loss, loss of motor abilities, and cognitive decline.

The research, focused on vision, demonstrated that while the brain has some ability to repair itself when myelin is damaged, the process can be slow and inefficient. Researchers...