Cop 1 as a candidate drug for multiple sclerosis.
Copolymer 1 (Cop 1), a synthetic copolymer of amino acids, is very effective in suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Cop 1 was found incapable of inducing EAE, yet it suppressed EAE in a variety of animal species, including primates. The immunological cross-reaction between the myelin basic protein (MBP) and Cop 1 serves as the basis for the suppressive activity of Cop 1 in EAE, by the induction of antigen-specific suppressor cells and competition with MBP for binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Clinical trials with Cop 1, both Phase II and Phase III, were performed in relapsing-remitting (E-R) patients. The latter, a two-year multicenter double blind trial with 251 participating patients was conducted at 11 leading medical centers in the USA. It demonstrated a significant beneficial effect of Cop 1 in both diminishing the rate of exacerbations and improving the clinical status. The side effects of Cop 1 were only minimal. The cumulative results indicate that Cop 1 is a promising candidate drug for multiple sclerosis.
Teitelbaum
D
D
Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Arnon
R
R
Sela
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010455:Peptides; C021759:(T,G)-A-L