SAO PAULO, June 3 : An experimental treatment for spinal cord injuries has ignited a frenzy in Brazil, drawing patients from as far off as Mexico to a small-town laboratory, mobilizing the government to expedite approval and turning a scientist into a national celebrity – all before its safety has been proven in a clinical trial.

The buzz around polylaminin, a placenta-derived protein aimed at promoting nerve regeneration, has lured interest from thousands of potential patients worldwide, with dozens hiring lawyers to gain access to the drug.

Absent clinical proof of safety and efficacy, experts are urging caution while trying to separate facts from hope.

Animal studies since the early 2000s suggest polylaminin can stimulate regeneration of damaged nerve fibers.

Though Phase 1 clinical trials are still underway, public interest in polylaminin exploded after a 2024 preprint of a study was promoted last year by Cristalia, the Brazilian pharmaceutical company that acquired the patent.

The lead researcher, Brazilian scientist Tatiana Sampaio, told Reuters a peer-reviewed study of polylaminin is close to publication but declined to name the journal. 

The public response in Brazil has been far-reaching, with popular Brazilian musician Joao Gomes calling out Sampaio at a Carnival parade this year: "You are the biggest celebrity here," he said.

The enthusiasm is a matter of national pride.

"A female scientist made a groundbreaking discovery for the world, and she is Brazilian," Sampaio said.

GOVERNMENT BULLISH, SCIENTISTS WARY

If proven safe and effective, polylaminin would be a big win for a Brazilian industry that has long prioritized generic drugs and a country that invests just 1.2 per cent of GDP in research and development, according to 2023 World Bank data.

The government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is running for reelection this year, has seized on the optimism.

"It is something so important to us that it was the first product analyzed by the newly created Innovation Committee at Anvisa," Health Minister Alexandre Padilha said of the state health regulator. "If the clinical study yields good results, it can be made available to the population as quickly as possible."

Some experts warn not to let enthusiasm get ahead of science.

Marco Baptista, chief science officer at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, called polylaminin "innovative" and "prom...