Even though the etiology of
multiple sclerosis (MS) remains largely unknown, research data support the hypothesis that autoimmunity plays a major role in disease development. Several disease-modifying agents have been approved for the treatment of MS; however, there is still a need for
antigen-specific treatments that combine efficacy and safety.
DNA vaccination represents a new therapeutic alternative in this respect. Preclinical studies in different models of autoimmunity have demonstrated that injection of plasmid
DNA encoding a
self-antigen in mice restores self-tolerance, leaving immunity against infectious and
tumor antigens intact. Based on this evidence, the first
DNA vaccine for MS has been created. Bayhill Therapeutic Inc's
BHT-3009 encodes full-length, human
myelin basic protein (MBP), and has recently been evaluated in a phase I/II and a phase II clinical trial.
BHT-3009 was safe and well tolerated in both trials, inducing immune tolerance that extended beyond MBP to other myelin
antigens. In addition, a reduction in the number of active lesions was observed, which was accompanied by a decrease in clinical relapse rates, particularly in patients with high immunological activity at baseline.
BHT-3009 appears to be a promising new approach for the treatment of MS, although further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the early findings.