A New Peptide Vaccine for Multiple Sclerosis Succeeds in Phase IIa – Labiotech.eu (blog)

Apitope is developing therapeutic peptides to induce suppression of autoimmune responses towards self-antigens. Their recent phase IIa trial has revealed promising results for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a hot topic these days.While arecentlong-term study revealedthe potential of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of MS, this treatment strategy is associated withlife-threatening complications mainly due toimmune deficiency.

A very different approachis based on reinstating immune balance without causing global immune suppression. Apitopes technologyuses specific peptides, which induce an antigen-specific expansion of regulatory T cells the key mediatorsof immune tolerance. These cells are able to suppress autoantigen-specific helper T cells, which produce proinflammatory cytokines and are responsible for immune pathology in diseases such as MS.

With itstechnology Apitope is trying to tackle four major disease areas includingMS, Graves Disease, Hemophilia type A and Uveitis. In 2009, Apitope licensed its MS lead ATX-MS-1467 to Merck KGaAin orderto develop and commercialize the treatment. However, Apitope announced that it regained full rights of their product in October 2016.

Damage of the myelin sheath by the immune system in patients with multiple sclerosis.

It seems like this was not a bad deal for Apitope as the company has now announced positive results of its phase IIa study for the treatment of MS. The study evaluated the effects of itscompound in 19 patientswith relapsing Multiple Sclerosis, following intradermal injection. The results revealed a significant reductionof active MS lesions. Theyalso revealed a strong trend towards improvement in the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) score that is used as an indicator of improvement in disability.

Moreover, Apitope announced the preparation of a placebo controlled phase IIb study, which should provide further information on the effectsafter a longer treatment period. If itsstrategy works, this might be a much safer approach than stem cell transplantation.

On the other hand,the biotech industry is working hard on a cure for MS and the competition is large.Biogen has recentlyreceived European marketing authorizationfor their antibody-based MS treatment and the European biotech-star Actelion (recently acquired by J&J)is also pursuing a phase III study for their new oral combination therapy. Lets see if Apitopes new technology can compete on this livelymarket.

Images via shutterstock.com /Atstock Productions andshutterstock.com / Designua

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A New Peptide Vaccine for Multiple Sclerosis Succeeds in Phase IIa - Labiotech.eu (blog)