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Multiple sclerosis: Trial of a synthetic polypeptide
Author(s) -
Bornstein M. B.,
Miller A. I.,
Teitelbaum D.,
Ar R.,
Sela M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410110314
Subject(s) - multiple sclerosis , placebo , encephalomyelitis , medicine , tyrosine , gastroenterology , surgery , immunology , pathology , chemistry , biochemistry , alternative medicine
A synthetic polypeptide, copolymer I (COP I), composed of alanine, glutamic acid, lysine, and tyrosine, has been demonstrated to be nonecephalitogenic and nontoxic in laboratory animals, yet it is capable of suppressing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. A preliminary open trial examined the ability of COP I to alter the course of disease in 12 patients with chronic progressive and 4 with exacerbating‐remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). After therapy for as long as two years or more, no undersirable side reaction was noted in any patient. Three patients with chronic progressive MS and 2 with exacerbating‐remitting disease are better. These results, which may represent simply a placebo effect or may be a significant response, are now being examined in randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind pilot trials.