Tovaxin for multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Introduction: A potential therapeutic possibility for multiple sclerosis (MS) is provided by Tovaxin, a personalized autologous T-cell immunotherapy utilizing myelin-reactive lymphocytes from peripheral blood.

Areas covered: This review covers the production of the vaccine, which follows a series of steps after the acquisition of T-cells. This includes identification of the subsets that are myelin reactive, expansion ex vivo and, also extrinsically, inactivation of their replication capacity by cellular irradiation. Once attenuated, the modified cells are reintroduced into the donor. This process appears to induce a vigorous immune response towards specific populations of autoreactive T-cells determined to attack the myelin and its derivatives by trafficking from the vascular space into the CNS in MS. Historical aspects of the T-cell vaccination with Tovaxin, the process to obtain reactive T-cells and their attenuation techniques ex vivo are described. The clinical results obtained from clinical trials are also discussed.

Expert opinion: The process of T-cell vaccination is complicated and presents some limitations. Further studies are required to provide scientific support and clinical evidence of the efficacy of Tovaxin in MS.

Keywords::

• autoimmunity
• autologous
• demyelination
• myelin
• myelin basic protein
• T-cell lymphocytes
• T-cell vaccination