Small Preliminary Study Examines Blood Stem Cell Transplant to Delay MS Progression

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 11 A.M. (ET), TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

Media advisory: To contact corresponding author Richard K. Burt, M.D., email Marla Paul at [email protected]. The full study is available on the For The Media website.

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Bottom Line: In a randomized clinical trial, researchers compared the effect of a stem cell transplant using a non-myeloablative regimen (a lower-dose, short course of more tolerable immune specific chemotherapy and antibodies to suppress the immune system) versus continuing disease-modifying therapy in 110 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The primary outcome was disease progression and other outcomes included neurologic disability, quality of life, time to relapse and no evidence of disease activity. The stem cell transplant was better than continued drug therapy for patients with frequent relapses and moderate disability. Further studies are needed to replicate the findings of this preliminary study.

Authors: Richard K. Burt, M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, and coauthors.