One man’s broken spine triggered a drug trial that could rewrite the future for millions left paralyzed—what if regrowth, not just recovery, is finally within reach?
Story Snapshot
- Larry Williams regained the ability to walk after a devastating spinal cord injury thanks to the experimental drug NVG-291.
- NVG-291’s mechanism targets inhibitory signals, enabling nerve regrowth where previous therapies failed.
- Williams’ recovery continued after the trial ended, breaking norms in spinal cord injury science.
- Researchers are expanding clinical trials, with implications for independence, healthcare costs, and human potential.
Breakthrough Recovery Defies Spinal Cord Injury Expectations
Larry Williams, age 58, was paralyzed by a mountain biking accident near Philadelphia that crushed his C4 to C6 vertebrae. He faced a familiar prognosis: slim chance of walking, likely life in a wheelchair. Two weeks after surgery, physical therapy restored only minimal movement. Then Williams enrolled in a clinical trial for NVG-291, a peptide drug designed to promote nerve regrowth—ushering in a new chapter not just for him, but for spinal cord injury science.
The NVG-291 trial began in April 2024 at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, led by Dr. Monica Perez and Northwestern University. Williams received daily injections and intensive physical therapy over three months. Progress was dramatic: limited hand movement advanced to walking 10 meters with a walker in just 15 seconds. Unlike previous therapies, recovery accelerated after the trial ended, with Williams reporting new milestones months later—a pattern unheard of in classic rehabilitation.
Hope for tens of thousands?
Man paralyzed in biking accident regains walking ability in peptide drug trial | Fox News https://t.co/iDzkEHytjp
— Ron Barrett (@Ron_Barrett) October 3, 2025
NVG-291’s Unique Mechanism Transforms Neuroregeneration
Most treatments for spinal cord injuries focus on rehabilitation or symptom management, not regeneration. NVG-291 blocks the molecular signals that prevent nerves from regrowing after injury, a breakthrough distinguished from stem cell implants and electrical stimulation devices. Past preclinical studies hinted at promise in animal models, but translation to human patients remained elusive—until now. Williams’ sustained, ongoing recovery challenges entrenched beliefs about the limits of nerve repair. This opens new debates among experts about the scale and speed of neuroregeneration possible in living patients.
NVG-291’s developers and clinical partners have invested years in refining the peptide’s delivery and safety profile. Their collaboration reflects the growing intersection between biotech innovation and medical research. Pharmaceutical teams hold intellectual property and funding, but real-world patient outcomes like Williams’ provide the critical evidence needed for regulatory approval and broader adoption.
Implications Ripple Across Medicine, Economics, and Society
Short-term, NVG-291 offers new hope for those with fresh spinal cord injuries. Williams’ progress demonstrates that independence and mobility can be restored faster and more completely than previously believed possible. Long-term, the therapy could reduce healthcare costs and reshape rehabilitation, allowing patients to reclaim both productivity and quality of life. If further trials confirm these results, the ripple effects will reach insurance, policy, and the expectations of families confronting paralysis.
The medical community is taking notice. Dr. Monica Perez, leading the NVG-291 study, cites both animal and human data supporting the peptide’s unique mechanism. Other experts, including those involved in China’s closed-loop stimulation system research, urge caution and call for larger, multi-site trials to confirm scalability and safety. Patient advocates, meanwhile, emphasize the transformative potential for tens of thousands who currently rely on wheelchairs, with Williams now swimming laps and standing unaided for half a minute—a feat unimaginable just months before.
