Immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis: the end of the beginning

Currently available medicines approved for use in Europe and North America reduce the relapse rate in relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis by about 30%. These medications may be no more efficacious than intermittent use of corticosteroids at the time of relapse. New directions for therapy of multiple sclerosis include blockade of α4 integrin, the use of altered peptide ligands, inhibition of Th1 cytokines, and DNA vaccination.