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Updated: May 27, 2026
A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Published on: December 26, 2015
A randomized clinical trial of autologous T-cell therapy in multiple sclerosis: subset analysis and implications for
Edward Fox1, Daniel Wynn, Stanley Cohan
1Central Texas Neurology Consultants, Round Rock, TX 78681, USA.
Background:
Tovaxin is an autologous T-cell immunotherapy under investigation for the treatment of MS. The product consists of in vitro expanded myelin-reactive T-cells manufactured against up to six immunodominant peptides derived from three myelin antigens.
Methods:
A Phase 2b placebo controlled study (TERMS) was conducted in 150 subjects to gather safety and efficacy data in relapsing-remitting MS and clinically isolated syndrome subjects.
Results:
Tovaxin had a favorable safety profile. Although no statistically significant clinical or radiological benefit of Tovaxin immunotherapy was identified in the modified intent-to-treat population, a prospective analysis of subjects with more active disease favored Tovaxin in terms of annualized relapse rate (ARR) and disability progression. An analysis also found a possible legacy effect of prior disease-modifying treatment (DMT) which may have contributed to a lowered ARR in the placebo group. DMT-naïve subjects treated with Tovaxin had a lower ARR compared to the placebo group, particularly in those with active baseline disease (ARR ≥ 1, ARR>1). However, clinical benefit was not was accompanied by a treatment-dependent improvement in MRI measures.
Conclusions:
Previous DMT exposure may reduce effect size and study power. Limiting subject selection to DMT-treatment-naïve individuals may be a reasonable approach to phase 2 or proof-of-concept studies of limited duration.
