A new potential treatment for endometriosis, a long-term and often painful condition that affects around 190 million people worldwide, is showing early promise, according to a report in Nature. The British science journal highlights a study published in August in Advanced Healthcare Materials, which investigated the use of a drug called niclosamide. Typically used to treat tapeworm infections, niclosamide works by preventing the worm from absorbing glucose, a key energy source. In this study, researchers explored how niclosamide might be used to target abnormal uterine tissue that forms in areas of the body where it shouldn’t, a hallmark of endometriosis. In 2016, the same research team had already found that niclosamide’s anti-inflammatory properties helped reduce the growth of endometrial tissue in mice. More recently, they discovered that certain immune cells involved in endometriosis have a type of receptor called a folate receptor. Using this insight, the researchers modified niclosamide to make it more specific to endometriosis by attaching it to folic acid, which binds to these receptors. In their experiments, mice treated with the modified drug developed fewer and smaller lesions compared to a control group. The drug also remained in the cells for at least two weeks, suggesting it could have a prolonged effect. Elise Courtois, a molecular biology specialist at the Jackson Laboratory in Farmington, Connecticut, who was not involved in the research, described the study as a "very encouraging first step toward non-surgical, non-hormonal treatments" for endometriosis. While the results are promising, the research is still in the early stages and has not yet reached the point of human clinical trials. Kanako Hayashi, a reproductive biologist at Washington State University and lead author of the study, told Nature that she has already received "tons of emails" from people with endometriosis eager to participate in future trials. "They are really ready to do anything to improve their condition," she noted, highlighting the strong demand for effective new treatments. Endometriosis is a complex and often misunderstood condition that can cause severe pain, infertility, and other health issues. Current treatments often involve surgery or hormone therapy, which can have significant side effects. If this new approach proves successful in human trials, it could offer a safer and more targeted alternative for patients. Researchers now aim to conduct further studies to confirm the drug’s safety and effectiveness before moving toward clinical trials.