Multiple sclerosis: Trial of a synthetic polypeptide

Abstract

A synthetic polypeptide, copolymer I (COP I), composed of alanine, glutamic acid, lysine, and tyrosine, has been demonstrated to be nonecephalitogenic 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 undersirable 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.