Recovery of mice raises hopes drug could help people with spinal injuries

Compared with injured mice not given AZD1236, those given it for three days showed 85% improvement in movement and sensation six weeks after the spinal injury. Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

Mice with spinal cord injuries have shown remarkable recovery after being given a drug initially developed for people with lung disease, researchers have revealed, saying the treatment could soon be tested on humans.

It is thought there are about 2,500 new spinal cord injuries in the UK every year, with some of those affected experiencing full loss of movement as a result. Despite a number of promising areas of research, at present damage to the spinal cord is not reversible.