What is the treatment
under study?
Helminth-induced
immunomodulation therapy
How does it affect the
immune attack in MS?
Harmless parasitic worms that
may stimulate protective immune
response
What is the status
of these trials?
In phase I trials for MS
Estriol
Pregnancy hormone that
decreases inflammatory immune
response
In phase II trials for MS
Abatacept
Ocrelizumab
(F. Hoffman La Roche, Ltd.)
An antibody that blocks an early
step in immune cell activation
A humanized antibody that binds
to a molecule on the surface of
select B cells and depletes them
from the body
In phase II trials for MS
In phase III trials for MS
Daclizumab High Yield Process
(DAC HYP, Biogen Idec)
A humanized antibody that
suppresses T cells by blocking
signals from an immune
messenger protein
In phase III trials for MS
Lemtrada™ (alemtuzumab,
Sanofi Aventis)
A humanized antibody that
targets a protein on both T and B
cells to shut down cell activity
Phase III trials showed benefit;
company plans to seek regulatory
approval from FDA in the first
quarter of 2012
BG- 12 (dimethyl fumarate,
Biogen Idec)
A chemical compound that
promotes cells that can regulate
the immune response
Phase III trials showed benefit;
company has applied to the FDA
for approval for MS.
Aubagio™ (teriflunomide, Sanofi
Aventis)
A compound that modulates
responses of T cells within the
immune system by impairing the
genes that instruct these cells
Mixed results so far in two phase
III trials out of 5 underway;
FDA has accepted New Drug
Application for review.
Here are a few of many immune-modulating strategies under study in people with MS. Find more
trials at nationalMSsociety.org/clinicaltrials. (Phase I—small early studies to determine safety; Phase
II—studies in larger numbers of people that begin to determine effectiveness; Phase III—even larger,
longer studies to better understand effectiveness and possible side effects.)
