A New Vaccine Against Multiple Sclerosis
An experimental DNA vaccine against multiple sclerosis (MS) appears safe in early human tests and shows signs of effectiveness, according to a paper published Monday in the online version of the Archives of Neurology.
In MS, the immune system attacks the fatty coating, known as myelin, protecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually destroying nerve cells’ ability to communicate. The cause of the disease is unknown.
In the study, headed by Amit Bar-Or of the Montreal Neurological Institute in Canada, patients were given a vaccine made up of one of the protein components of myelin. The idea is that the vaccine will damp the body’s tendency to attack myelin.
While larger studies are needed to determine if the vaccine will truly help MS patients, initial results were promising. The vaccine appears safe and showed early signs of a beneficial effect on the immune system: the number of immune cells in the spinal fluid that attack myelin was reduced in a small subset of patients who underwent lumbar puncture. A larger study of the vaccine is now under way.
Keep Reading
Most Popular

These materials were meant to revolutionize the solar industry. Why hasn’t it happened?
Perovskites are promising, but real-world conditions have held them back.

Why China is still obsessed with disinfecting everything
Most public health bodies dealing with covid have long since moved on from the idea of surface transmission. China’s didn’t—and that helps it control the narrative about the disease’s origins and danger.

Anti-aging drugs are being tested as a way to treat covid
Drugs that rejuvenate our immune systems and make us biologically younger could help protect us from the disease’s worst effects.

A quick guide to the most important AI law you’ve never heard of
The European Union is planning new legislation aimed at curbing the worst harms associated with artificial intelligence.
Stay connected

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.