Multiple sclerosis: trial of a synthetic polypeptide.
A synthetic polypeptide, copolymer I (COP I), composed of alanine, glutamic acid, lysine, and tyrosine, has been demonstrated to be nonencephalitogenic 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 undesirable 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.
D000328:Adult; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010455:Peptides; C021759:(T,G)-A-L