The Research Team at the Motor Neurone Disease Association is often asked to give it's view on research topics affecting people with motor neurone disease (MND), in terms of clinical trials, and research to find out more about causes of and treatments for the disease.
Below you will find statements that set out our current position on some of these research topics.
Ellorarxine
Ellorarxine is a drug compound developed by Nevrargenics, a UK based neuroscience company. Ellorarxine is not yet a medicine and has not been tested in humans. The compound targets a physiological process called retinoid signalling, which plays a critical role in brain development and repair, though it’s role in neurodegenerative diseases, including motor neurone disease (MND) is not fully understood.
The research published and presented by the company in October 2024 suggested the drug demonstrated a number of potentially positive effects on cells grown in the laboratory, including protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. There is no published data to show whether the drug has the same effect in humans or, indeed, whether it is safe for use in people. So while these early stage results are interesting, further research is needed. Nevrargenics has sought advice from the MHRA about clinical trial design. We are in touch with the team at Nevrargenics and will of course share updates with our community in the future.
Read the latest update on ellorarxine.
Last updated: 24/11/2025
Neurorehabilitation Clinics
Neurorehabilitation refers to services designed to support people with neurological conditions including progressive neurological disease such as motor neurone disease, but also brain injury, spinal cord injury and nerve disorders. A neurorehabilitation clinic will usually have a team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists whose aim is to support people to be as independent as possible for as long as possible.
The healthcare professionals overseeing the care of a person with MND can make a referral to a neurorehabilitation clinic if it would be helpful and appropriate.
There are private clinics offering neurorehabilitation services. Some of these claim their programmes can have significant impact on, and even reverse, MND symptoms. The science behind these programmes is often not well explained, the programmes aren’t medically regulated and they haven’t been tested in rigorous clinical trials so there is no published scientific evidence to back up those claims.
Before starting any programme or treatment, please discuss it with your neurologist or care team who are best placed to advise what’s right for you.