An experimental treatment for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) may prolong life but does not seem to halt progressive deterioration of the brain, a study of seven British patients who took the drug has found.

Pentosan polysulphate, widely prescribed in pill form around the world for urological conditions, is infused directly into the brain of patients with CJD.

Ian Bone, a Glasgow neurologist, did the study on behalf of the Medical Research Council. Of the seven patients, three had variant CJD (vCJD, contracted from bovine spongiform encephalopathy); two had iatrogenic prion disease from growth hormone; and two had the hereditary form of CJD. All were …