New Scientist calls for worm investigation

An editorial in the latest New Scientist, Let them eat worms, calls for a relaxation of regulations so that full-scale clinical trials into the use of parasitic worms called helminths can be undertaken. A story in issue 2824, Citizen scientists eat worms to treat disorders (subscription required) [titled "One sugar or two with your parasites?" in the print edition], further explains why helminthic therapy is so promising.

Small trials run in the past ten years, including those by Joel Weinstock of Tufts University, and John Crease of Townsville Hospital, have shown promising results. The expansion to larger trials has not occurred because of the safety issues involved in infecting large groups of volunteers with living organisms, with the potential for severe illness to result. Some researchers feel that the mechanism by which helminths subdue the immune system should be determined and replicated with medication, rather than introducing worms into the patients.

The usage of worms to treat Crohn's disease has been a promising avenue of investigation for a number of years now, but not much progress has been made. Anecdotally, worms seem to be more successful and produce fewer side-effects than many of the current medicines. However, people should not have to experiment on themselves to find if worm therapy is their best course of action. Full-scale clinical trials are needed, and proper scientific analysis to work out if it should be added to the mainstream options available for the treatment of Crohn's.