Mbp8298

MBP8298 was discovered by two research scientists at the University of Alberta for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). MBP8298 is a synthetic peptide that consists of 17 amino acids linked in a sequence identical to that of a portion of human myelin basic protein (MBP).

Results from a phase II and long-term follow-up trial with MBP8298, published in the European Journal of Neurology, showed that MBP8298 safely delayed median time to disease progression for five years in progressive MS patients with HLA-DR2 or HLA-DR4 immune response genes.

The drug is exclusively licensed by BioMS Medical Corp., a Canadian-based biotechnology company. BioMS Medical received clearance from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a phase III clinical trial, named MAESTRO-03, for secondary progressive MS patients in January 2007. An additional Phase III clinical trial for MBP8298, MAESTRO-01, is being undertaken in Canada and Europe. MBP8298 is also being evaluated as a potential therapy for relapsing-remitting MS in a Phase II trial in Europe entitled MINDSET-01.

BioMS Medical has agreed to share development of MBP8298 with Eli Lilly and Company, which received exclusive worldwide rights to future research and development, manufacturing, and marketing of the compound.