Are Effective Therapies for Progressive MS on the Horizon?

He and his colleagues published a proof-of-concept study of autologous MSCs for the treatment of MS in Lancet Neurology in 2012. They examined 10 patients with secondary progressive MS and previous optic neuritis before and after the latter received MSCs. The treatment significantly improved visual acuity, and the researchers found evidence that it might promote remyelination.

Organizations including the Consortium of MS Centers have supported the International MSC Transplantation Study Group, which will guide future research into MSCs. The study group published a consensus paper on MSCs in Multiple Sclerosis in 2010. The consensus paper drew on the current literature to set guidelines for phase I and phase II clinical trials of MSCs in patients with MS. “Useful collaborative work going on in this area [provides] a lot of cause for optimism,” said Dr. Thompson.

—Erik Greb