A New Class of Immunomodulatory Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease caused by activated autoimmune T lymphocytes in patients resulting in inflammatory demyelination in the central nervous system. Current treatments are focused on functional control of these activated autoimmune T cells, but these treatments are non-specific T cell inhibitors and have serious, sometimes fatal side effects. A specific therapy aimed at eliminating these autoimmune T cells through restimulation-induced cell death (RICD) could cure the disease and overcome the fatal side effects of current therapies. NIAID inventors have identified a multi-valent tolerogen (MMPt), which can specifically elicit RICD of the activated, disease causing autoimmune T cells without compromising the general T cell-dependent immunity in the host. Animal studies have demonstrated that MMPt exerts robust therapeutic effects on both monophasic as well as relapsing-remitting type of the disease, indicating its medical applicability for treating MS patients with active disease. NIAID is seeking partners to develop this multi-valent peptide to improve its efficacy for use in clinical trials.

This technology is available for licensing for commercial development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 209 and 37 CFR Part 404, as well as for further development and evaluation under a research collaboration.