Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by two major pathological hallmarks: inflammation with demyelination and astroglial proliferation, leading to gliosis and neurodegeneration. Our company is committed to contributing to this field through ongoing research, innovation, and collaboration with experts in the field.
Overview of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and is a leading cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. An estimated 2.5 million people in the world have MS, with an incidence of about 2.1 per 100,000 people/year. MS is classified into the following four types.
Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)
Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) refers to the first episode of symptoms that are suggestive of MS but do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis.
Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS)
Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) affects approximately 10-15% of MS. PPMS often presents with more severe neurodegeneration.
Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS)
Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) accounts for approximately 85% of all cases. In RRMS, immune cells infiltrate the affected area, leading to inflammation. This chronic inflammation occurs within the central nervous system, specifically behind the blood-brain barrier. It involves the activation of microglia, as well as the ongoing participation of T and B cells.
Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)
Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) often follows the initial phase of RRMS. In this stage, nerve damage progressively accumulates, leading to a gradual worsening of symptoms. SPMS is associated with both inflammation and neurodegeneration, contributing to the long-term disability.
Fig.1 Five Distinctive Pathologies Likely Contribute to Progressive MS (Hauser, Stephen L., et al., 2020)Therapeutics Development of MS
- Mechanisms of Action of Effective Drugs
Mechanism of action Representative Pivotal efficacy data Anti-CD20 mAb Ocrelizumab RMS: Relative reduction in ARR compared with IFN β- la: 47%
PPMS: Relative reduction in 12-week CDP compared with placebo: 24%α4β1 integrin inhibitor Natalizumab Relative reduction in ARR compared with placebo: 68% Relative reduction in sustained disease progression compared with placebo: 42% Anti-CD52 mAb Alemtuzumab The relative reduction in ARR compared with placebo: 49–69% DNA intercalator Mitoxantrone The relative reduction in relapses compared with placebo: 61% - Targets of MS Therapy Development
Human proteins are essential components in various biological processes and serve as the primary targets for therapeutic interventions. It has been observed that drug targets associated with genetic factors have a higher chance of gaining market approval. In recent years, the utilization of Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis has become increasingly popular in the development of new drug targets and repurposing existing drugs. The following proteins might be promising drug targets for multiple sclerosis and warrant further clinical investigation.
- FCRL3
- TYMP
- AHSG
- SLAMF7
Our Services
Our company is dedicated to constructing rare disease diagnostics and therapy development platforms. These platforms enable us to provide comprehensive and professional MS therapy development services. In our research, we have identified several promising proteins that could serve as potential drug targets for MS. These proteins include FCRL3, TYMP, AHSG, and SLAMF7. These targets have shown significance in the pathogenesis of MS and warrant further investigation.
Platforms of MS Therapy Development
With a focus on rare disease drug development, our highly trained scientists are proficient in all aspects of preclinical research. For MS, we offer animal model development services using mice or rats with specified gene knockouts. This service supports pharmacokinetics study and drug safety evaluation, providing crucial insights for therapeutic target validation and development.
- Mog-induced models
- PLP-induced models
- Cuprizone-induced demyelination models
- Lysophosphatidylcholine-induced demyelination models
- MS Zebrafish models
If you are interested in our disease modeling services, please contact us for more information.
Reference
- Hauser, Stephen L., et al. "Treatment of multiple sclerosis: a review." The American journal of medicine 133.12 (2020): 1380-1390.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.