Several people with progressive MS who attend the Anne Rowling Clinic participated in this trial, called SPI2, which was run by MedDay Pharmaceuticals.

The study was a phase 3 clinical trial of a naturally occuring vitamin called biotin that is normally present in food and is needed for energy production in cells. Previous results had indicated that high-dose, pharmaceutical grade biotin might result in improved cell function, repair, or survival in people with MS.

In this study, the investigators tested biotin in a larger number of people - 642 participants to be exact, at 90 MS clinics across 13 countries.This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, meaning that half the participants received biotin, while the other half received a placebo, and neither the participants nor the study doctors knew which they were receiving. The participants were followed up for up to 15 months to assess the progression of their MS.

The findings showed that the people who had received biotin did not show any improvement in disability or walking speed compared with the people who had received placebo. In addition, a higher proportion of people taking biotin experienced adverse side effects. Because of these two findings, the trial was stopped.

Although it is disappointing when a potential treatment fails at the final hurdle of a phase 3 trial, all insights into the biology and treatment of MS contribute to a detailed understanding of this condition and will help with planning future trials.

We would like to thank the people who took part in this trial through the Anne Rowling Clinic.

Related links

Biotin study: 'completed project' page

Read the scientific paper: Safety and efficacy of MD1003 (high-dose biotin) in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (SPI2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial' in Lancet Neurology. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30347-1.