Exploiting Anti-CD3 Antibodies, Relevant Biomarkers in Progressive MS: Tanuja Chitnis, MD

WATCH TIME: 2 minutes

"From our studies, at least in animal models, the drug accumulates in the cervical lymph nodes and probably has an effect throughout the brain through the glymphatic and through regulatory molecules and cells that then get into the brain. I think this approach of nasally delivered treatments might be the future for both progressive MS as well as other neurological diseases."

The number of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) has vastly expanded in the past decade. Although, those with progressive forms of the disease have not seen as much regulatory success. To date, ocrelizumab (Ocrevus; Genentech) stands as the only FDA-approved therapeutic for these patients. Drug companies and industry leaders are currently in a mad dash to uncover the next truly effective agent, and more importantly, target of action, to successfully treat progressive MS.

Finding a true biomarker that stops or reverses neurodegeneration continues to allude the MS community; however, one agent is showing early potential. At the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, June 1-4, in National Harbor, Maryland, researchers presented a case-study of a patient with progressive MS who demonstrated reduced microglial activation, decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and positive clinical effects after being treated with foralumab, an anti-CD3 intranasal monoclonal antibody.

With the limited number of agents showing promise for progressive MS, NeurologyLive^® sat down with lead investigator Tanuja Chitnis, MD, to understand why anti-CD3 could be an interesting therapeutic target, and whether there are certain biomarkers specifically relevant to those with progressive MS. Chitnis, associate neurologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and professor of neurology, Harvard Medical School, also provided thoughts on whether companies may try to exploit anti-CD3 pending future success.

Click here for more coverage of CMSC 2022.

REFERENCE
1. Chitnis T, Singhal T, Zurawski J, et al. Nasal anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (foralumab) reduces PET microglial activation and blood inflammatory biomarkers in a patient with non-active secondary progressive MS. Presented at: CMSC Annual Meeting, 2022; June 1-4; National Harbor, MD. LB