Modified niclosamide shows pain relief and lesion reduction in mouse endometriosis model
Researchers at Washington State University created a water-soluble, folate-targeted form of niclosamide that lessened pain and shrank lesions in mice with endometriosis.
A research group at Washington State University reengineered the antiparasitic drug niclosamide to improve its solubility and specificity for endometriosis-related cells. By linking the drug to an eight-nanometer, water-soluble carrier and incorporating folic acid, they aimed to target macrophages that express folate receptors. In a mouse model, the new formulation reduced pain responses and produced fewer, smaller lesions than untreated animals, while remaining inside the target macrophages for a minimum of two weeks.
These findings, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, hint that the therapy could be administered by injection every few weeks. Kanako Hayashi, the study’s lead author, emphasized that human testing remains distant but reported a surge of patient inquiries about future trials.
How this was covered
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
Why it matters
Endometriosis affects millions of women; a safer, long-term drug could transform pain management and fertility outcomes.
In this story
