Madeleine Hodgson1, Cornelia Laule1,2,
Irene Vavasour1,2, David Li2, Yinshan Zhao3,
Tony Traboulsee3, Joel Oger3, Alex MacKay1,2
1Physics, University of British
Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 2Radiology,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 3Medicine,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1H-MRS
is a useful technique for evaluating demyelination and axonal integrity and
thus can be used to monitor disease progression in Multiple Sclerosis
(MS). Dirucotide (MBP8298) has
exhibited potential as a treatment for Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS) to
slow disease progression. The effects
of Dirucotide were investigated using 1H-MRS in a single centre,
double-blinded MRI substudy with a placebo control. There is no change observed in important
metabolites in either of the cohorts over a two-year period, which is perhaps
not surprising given that Dirucotide did not meet primary endpoints in the
MAESTRO-01 Phase III trial.