The combined treatment of Copaxone and Salirasib attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice

EAE is a common animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Immunomodulatory treatments such as glatiramer acetate (GA. Copaxone) are beneficial in EAE but are not universally effective in the clinic. The Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalycylic acid (FTS, Salirasib), efficiently ameliorate EAE as well. Here we demonstrate a synergistic beneficial effect of the combined GA and FTS treatment on EAE; 22.5% of the combined-treatment mice developed disease compared to 87.5%. 77.5% and 82.5% of mice treated with vehicle, GA and FTS, respectively, results supported by MRI, histological, immunological and biochemical data. Such a combined treatment may improve clinical outcome in MS patients. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.