Experimental Drug Enables PA Man to Walk Again
An experimental drug is giving hope to people living with spinal cord injuries, including a Pennsylvania man who is walking again after being paralyzed in a mountain biking accident.
A recent news report shared how Larry Williams was riding on a wooded trail when he collided with a tree and fractured his C4 to C6 vertebrae. Although he underwent emergency spinal surgery, he remained paralyzed for two weeks. Over time, he regained limited mobility with a walker, but he continued to struggle with hand function and balance.
His recovery took a meaningful turn when he enrolled in a Phase 2 clinical trial for NVG-291, an injectable peptide designed to help nerve fibers regrow. After a spinal cord injury, the body produces signals that stop nerves from regenerating. NVG-291 works by blocking those signals, which may allow the nerves to repair themselves. Unlike many current treatments -- such as stem cell therapy -- this medication can be given through simple daily injections at home.
During the trial, Williams combined the drug with physical therapy that included hand exercises, harness-assisted walking, and electrophysiological testing to measure nerve activity. By the end of the study, he could walk 32.8 feet in 15 seconds using a walker. Even after stopping the drug in July 2024, Williams continued to show improvement. He can now free-stand, balance on one foot for 30 seconds, and swim laps -- abilities he did not have before the trial.
Researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to understand how long the effects may last. Currently, no FDA-approved drug exists for the treatment of spinal cord injuries, making this early progress especially noteworthy.
For individuals affected by spinal cord injuries, breakthroughs like this highlight both the challenges of recovery and the importance of access to long-term care, therapy, and support. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence, know that Tom Duffy has been a member of the board of Magee Rehabilitation Foundation for over 20 years. He is keenly aware of developments in spinal cord care and has obtained 8-figure verdicts for people who have suffered spinal cord injuries in Philadelphia.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss the details of a possible lawsuit involving negligence.