Phase 1 trial safely resets patients’ immune systems and reduces attack on myelin protein
A phase 1 clinical trial for the first treatment to reset the immune system of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed the therapy was safe and dramatically reduced patients’ immune systems’ reactivity to myelin by 50 to 75 percent, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.
In MS, the immune system attacks and destroys myelin, the insulating layer that forms around nerves in the spinal cord, brain and optic nerve. When the insulation is destroyed, electrical signals can’t be effectively conducted, resulting in symptoms that range from mild limb numbness to paralysis or blindness.
“The therapy stops autoimmune responses that are already activated and prevents the activation of new autoimmune cells,” said Stephen Miller, the Judy Gugenheim Research Professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Our approach leaves the function of the normal immune system intact. That’s the holy grail.”
Miller is the co-senior author of a paper on the study, which will be published June 5 in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The study is a collaboration between Northwestern’s Feinberg School, University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany.
The human trial is the translation of more than 30 years of preclinical research in Miller’s lab.
In the trial, the MS patients’ own specially processed white blood cells were used to stealthily deliver billions of myelin antigens into their bodies so their immune systems would recognize them as harmless and develop tolerance to them.
Current therapies for MS suppress the entire immune system, making patients more susceptible to everyday infections and higher rates of cancer.
While the trial’s nine patients — who were treated in Hamburg, Germany — were too few to statistically determine the treatment’s ability to prevent the progression of MS, the study did show patients who received the highest dose of white blood cells had the greatest reduction in myelin reactivity.
The primary aim of the study was to demonstrate the treatment’s safety and tolerability. It showed the intravenous injection of up to 3 billion white blood cells with myelin antigens caused no adverse affects in MS patients. Most importantly, it did not reactivate the patients’ disease and did not affect their healthy immunity to real pathogens.
As part of the study, researchers tested patients’ immunity to tetanus because all had received tetanus shots in their lifetime. One month after the treatment, their immune responses to tetanus remained strong, showing the treatment’s immune effect was specific only to myelin.
The human safety study sets the stage for a phase 2 trial to see if the new treatment can prevent the progression of MS in humans. Scientists are currently trying to raise $1.5 million to launch the trial, which has already been approved in Switzerland. Miller’s preclinical research demonstrated the treatment stopped the progression of relapsing-remitting MS in mice.
“In the phase 2 trial we want to treat patients as early as possible in the disease before they have paralysis due to myelin damage.” Miller said. “Once the myelin is destroyed, it’s hard to repair that.”
The Latest Bing News on:
Multiple sclerosis
- World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day 2022 — “Connections”on May 28, 2022 at 4:41 am
Day is annually marked on May 30th to encourage a global campaign for everyone affected with multiple sclerosis.
- World Multiple Sclerosis Day: Sardinia among the most affected areason May 28, 2022 at 3:09 am
On May 30, the world day of multiple sclerosis is celebrated, a chronic autoimmune disease that in Sardinia has high numbers: the region is in fact one of the areas with the highest incidence and ...
- Signs You May Have Multiple Sclerosis Like Christina Applegateon May 27, 2022 at 3:46 am
Actress Christina Applegate revealed her Multiple sclerosis diagnosis on her birthday in 2021. Here are five symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
- UAB investigators receive $3.9 million Department of Defense grant to study interventions for those with multiple sclerosison May 26, 2022 at 12:59 pm
The investigators will look at diet’s impact on mobility, physical and cognitive function, as well as on pain, fatigue, sleep, mood and anxiety, in people with multiple sclerosis ...
- Novartis' Multiple Sclerosis Brands Mayzent and Kesimpta Both Show Strong Growth in Canada According to Surveyed Neurologists in Spherix Reporton May 26, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Despite a negative CDEC1 reimbursement recommendation, BMS' Zeposia has seen notable growth in the past six months, with neurologists optimistic about the future ...
- How Multiple Sclerosis Affects My Relationshipson May 26, 2022 at 8:40 am
Carolyn shares how MS has affected her relationships. Read more to find out how she navigates friendships, family, and her marriage.
- Cybil Shepherd Recalls Daughter Clementine’s Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis as ‘One of the Most Difficult Days of My Life’on May 24, 2022 at 12:44 am
Nile Rodgers & Chic had the crowd grooving well into the night at the 29th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala, which returned to the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in Century City after being held as ...
- Cybill Shepherd Recalls Daughter Clementine’s Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis as ‘One of the Most Difficult Days of My Life’on May 23, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Nile Rodgers & Chic had the crowd grooving well into the night at the 29th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala, which returned to the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in Century City after being held as a ...
- DMTs Lower Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Risk During Reproductive Therapyon May 23, 2022 at 11:34 am
In women with multiple sclerosis and clinically isolated syndrome, disease modifying therapy during assisted reproductive technology seems to reduce relapse risk ...
- Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Market Challenges, Segmentation, Solutions, Dynamics and Forecast to 2027on May 16, 2022 at 5:19 am
The global Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Market is accruing rapidly mainly due to the increasing prevalence of the disease. Although MS is ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Multiple sclerosis
The Latest Bing News on:
Multiple sclerosis breakthrough
- Using diffusion-weighted MRI to visualize brain inflammation in vivo for the first timeon May 27, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Research of the laboratories led by Dr. Silvia de Santis and Dr. Santiago Canals, both from the Institute of Neurosciences UMH-CSIC (Alicante, Spain), has made it possible to visualize for the first ...
- Magnetic resonance imaging shows brain inflammation in vivo for the first timeon May 27, 2022 at 11:00 am
Research by Dr. Silvia de Santis and Dr. Santiago Canals, both from the Institute of Neurosciences UMH-CSIC (Alicante, Spain), has made it possible to visualize for the first time and in great detail ...
- SIDS breakthrough: Australian study identifies ‘cause’ of deadly syndromeon May 26, 2022 at 5:00 pm
New research identifying the possible cause of sudden infant death syndrome is giving hope to parents that their newborns can be screened and recognised as high risk.
- Hawks make a breakthrough on apprehending alleged fraudsters into the IDC’s R35 million funding applicationon May 26, 2022 at 12:21 am
The Provincial Head, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa praised the investigation team for a major breakthrough on the apprehension of two fraud accused in relation to approximately R35 million defrauded ...
- Industry leaders hold digital transformation key to the CPG sector's breakthrough growthon May 25, 2022 at 9:47 pm
Accenture organised “Masters of Change”, a digital transformation symposium, in association with Network18 and MoneyControl on the topic “Ready for Breakthrough Growth? Grow away from the core”, to ...
- Tutankhamun breakthrough as boy king's name 'not originally Tutankhamun'on May 25, 2022 at 7:24 am
TUTANKHAMUN's name was not actually Tutankhamun at birth, with the boy king's real name laid bare by an Egyptologist.
- 36-Year-Old Charged With Murder Of Felicia Teo Further Remanded, Returns To Court In Julyon May 24, 2022 at 7:12 pm
Ahmad Danial Mohamed Rafa'ee, who was charged with the murder of Felicia Teo, has been further remanded. Another suspect is still at large.
- Why do people get long COVID? A virus that may cause MS could reveal clueson May 23, 2022 at 6:00 am
Scientists are looking at reactivation of latent viruses, and other existing post-infection syndromes, for answers about long-haul COVID-19.
- Can People With MS Get the COVID Vaccine?on May 21, 2022 at 5:08 am
While certain vaccines can trigger flare-ups, the COVID vaccine is safe for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about side effects and effectiveness.
- $500,000 prize for breakthrough project to eradicate poverty in Singaporeon May 19, 2022 at 8:21 am
SINGAPORE - A local charity is offering a grand prize of $500,000 to a team that can create a breakthrough project to eradicate poverty in Singapore, in a new challenge launched on Thursday (May 19).