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MBP8298 (dirucotide) is a synthetic peptide that consists of 17 amino acids having a sequence identical to that of a portion of human myelin basic protein (MBP). MBP8298 (dirucotide) is being developed for the potential treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease caused by immune attack against normal components of the central nervous system. The sequence of MBP8298 is associated with the autoimmune process in MS patients with certain immune response genes (HLA types DR2 and/or DR4); MS patients having these genes represent 65 to 75 percent of all MS patients.

The apparent mechanism of action of MBP8298 (dirucotide) is the induction or restoration of immunological tolerance with respect to ongoing immune attack as a result of high doses of peptide delivered periodically by the intravenous route. The potential benefit of MBP8298 (dirucotide) for any individual patient is therefore expected to be related to the role this peptide plays in that patient's immune system. The degree of immunomodulation achieved will depend on the relationship among the peptide, HLA molecules and T cells.

The results of phase II and long-term follow-up treatment of MS patients with MBP8298 (dirucotide), published in 2006 in the European Journal of Neurology (EJN), showed that MBP8298 (dirucotide) safely delayed median time to disease progression for five years (versus placebo) in progressive MS patients with HLA types DR2 and/or DR4. Thus, MBP8298 (dirucotide) has the potential to be used as a tailored therapy for patients genetically determined to express the appropriate HLA molecules.

About Multiple Sclerosis

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to affect as many as 2.5 million people worldwide, including approximately 75,000 in Canada, 400,000 in the United States and more than 500,000 in Europe. It is a disease that affects more women than men, with onset typically occurring between 20 and 50 year
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