At MS Virtual 2020, the 8th joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting, September 11–13, 2020, data from the first part of a phase 1 trial were presented on the safety of ATA188, an investigational, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy for patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The agent, developed by Atara Biotherapeutics, targets cells infected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

The study (NCT03283826) was an open-label assessment in 10 patients with progressive MS, with the cells sourced from healthy, EBV-seropositive and immunologically diverse donors. Ultimately, the findings revealed that the agent was safe to administer and showed a number of signs toward positive clinical outcomes based on the measures assessed, particularly with sustained disability improvement. Based on the data, the second part of the study, a randomized placebo-controlled portion, has been initiated.

To learn more about the agent and its potential as a therapy for patients with progressive disease, NeurologyLive spoke with Jakob Dupont, MD, executive vice president and head of global research and development, Atara Biotherapeutics, who offered insight into why Atara chose this approach and how the agent stands out as a cell therapy.

Rapid Readout: Expert Perspectives on Multiple Sclerosis - Data from the 8th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting 2020

Jakob Dupont, MD: Targeting the Epstein-Barr Virus for Progressive MS Treatment