The road to big, strong muscles is long and requires a lot of work in a gym. But researchers may have found a shortcut where muscles grow on their own. In fact, scientists have managed, through gene therapy, to increase the lean body mass and strength of macaque monkeys. The experiment was quite simple, the researchers simply injected the follistatin (FS344) gene directly into the monkeys’ right thigh muscles.
Follistatin has been shown to block myostatin, a molecule that downregulates muscle growth but strengthens tendons. Eight weeks after the injection, the circumference of the monkeys’ right thigh muscles had increased on average by 15 percent compared to the left thigh. A study conducted on two of the monkeys showed that the strength of the muscles in the right leg was increased by 12 and 36 percent, respectively, compared to the untreated leg.
Follistatin is injected by means of a viral vector, that is, an adeno-associated virus used to transport the drug to be injected.
It is a common method called gene therapy and has been used in humans with other medications.
The monkey study showed no negative side effects.
This therapy is being developed for use in patients with severe muscular dystrophy and other muscle wasting disorders.
Human clinical trials are due to begin in 2011, and Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Ohio has already secured funding for the study. There are a number of studies and clinical trials in progress or planned for the treatment of muscle wasting disorders, among some of the most interesting substances are follistatin as a myostatin antagonist,
Ostarine which is a SARM (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator) and is currently in human clinical trials by GTx Inc. and also another SARM codenamed BMS-564,929 that is being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
The potential for abuse of these substances by athletes has led the World Anti-Doping Agency to ban SARMs since 2008.
Until now, only the substance known as “SARMs S4” (Andarine) has hit the market and is being used by a limited number of professional and amateur bodybuilders.
Its anabolic effects are said to be moderate and it has been reported to have some temporary side effects, among which decreased night vision is the most prominent.
The future of drugs developed for muscle wasting diseases is sure to appeal to athletes and others who want to gain an added edge.
The next 5 to 10 years will see a lot of substances come out and some could be good replacements for anabolic steroids.
These drugs will be available through the black market to professional and amateur athletes alike, with unprecedented anabolic effects and almost no negative side effects.
