fMRI Study of Treatment Recommendations Comparing Recently Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patients to Controls

The development of the immunomodulatory, disease-modifying therapies (DMT) represents a
major advance for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). To date, immunomodulatory agents
approved for the treatment of MS in the United States include two forms of recombinant
interferon-beta (IFN-beta-1a [Avonex, Rebif] and IFN-beta-1b [Betaseron]) and synthetic
glatiramer acetate [Copaxone]. These drugs have been shown to favorably alter the natural
history of relapsing remitting MS by slowing the progression of disability, reducing relapse
rate, and decreasing brain inflammation as measured by MRI. There is evidence that the
treatment effects of both IFN-beta and glatiramer acetate are related to their properties in
regulating various components of the immune system, in particular, the T cell functions
(e.g. proliferation and migratory behavior) and cytokine production.

Though demonstrating clear efficacy on a number of short-term clinical measures, these
agents are not cures and most patients with MS continue to experience disease activity in
spite of treatment. Over the last ten years, clinicians have become comfortable initiating
therapy with DMT. Now, attention is focused on monitoring the results of a chosen therapy
and deciding whether or not a patient is responding optimally to treatment. At present,
however, clinicians lack criteria for defining optimal response to DMT as well as
evidence-based recommendations on how to improve treatment outcomes for individual patients.

Using a recently published model generated by an advisory board from the United States, as a
framework, The Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Working Group (CMSWG) developed practical,
evidence-based recommendations on how neurologists can assess the status of patients on DMT
and decide when it may be necessary to modify treatment in order to optimize outcomes. The
CMSWG's recommendations are based on monitoring relapses, neurological progression and MRI
activity. These recommendations have yet to be implemented in a prospective, randomized,
comparative Phase IV clinical trial.

Traditional measures do not provide critical information about the neural systems that
underlie change in behavioral performance. The goal of developing a surrogate biological
marker of drug efficacy is to be able to measure the extent to which a drug reaches its
intended targeted neural system, and to understand and predict the impact of treatment on
existing neuropathology. Ideally, relevant clinical outcome measures should be well
correlated with the biomarker.

fMRI is a new tool for noninvasive imaging of human brain function. Without the use of
contrast agents, fMRI detects regional MR signal increases that have been hypothesized to
reflect decreases in deoxyhemoglobin due to local increases in blood flow/volume during task
activation. fMRI has higher spatial and temporal resolution than other existing functional
imaging techniques, making it ideal for the study of complex cognitive functions in patient
populations.

Inclusion Criteria MS Subjects:

- Written informed consent and HIPAA authorization.

- Age between 18 and 65 years

- Male and female subjects with clinically definite or laboratory-supported
definite relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in accordance with the refined
McDonald (Polman, et al. 2005).

- Diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis for ≤ 1 year

- Naive to disease-modifying treatments

- Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) of 0 to ≤ 5.5, inclusive

- Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol for the duration of the
study

- If female, she must either:

1. be post-menopausal or surgically sterilized; or

2. use a hormonal contraceptive, intra uterine device, diaphragm with
spermicide, or condom with spermicide, for the duration of the study; and

3. be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding.

4. confirmation that if the subject can still have children, that she is not
pregnant must be established by a negative urine pregnancy test within 30
days of Study Day o.

Exclusion Criteria - MS Subjects:

- Pregnant or lactating women, or women of childbearing potential not using an
acceptable method of contraception

- Progressive forms of MS (Primary progressive, Secondary progressive)

- Subjects who have been on DMTs or other previous treatment for MS

- Participation in any other studies involving investigational or marketed products,
concomitantly or within 30 days prior to screening

- Treatment with oral or systemic corticosteroids or ACTH within 4 weeks of screening
or ongoing chronic treatment with systemic corticosteroids.

- Have taken intravenous immunoglobulin or any other investigational drug or taken part
in any experimental procedure in the 6 months prior to screening

- Psychiatric disorder either unstable or would preclude safe participation in the
study

- Cognitive impairment which impairs ability to understand or comply with the protocol
procedures

- Significant leucopenia (white blood cell count <0.5 times the lower limit of normal)
as assessed during the course of routine standard of care

- Elevated liver function tests (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase or total bilirubin >2.5
times the upper limit of normal) as assessed during the course of routine standard of
care

- Specific systemic diseases, (including insulin-dependent diabetes, Lyme disease,
clinically significant cardiac disease, HIV, HTLV-1, and Hepatitis B or C), or other
uncontrolled major medical conditions (depression, seizure disorder) that would
interfere with the participant's safety, compliance or evaluation

- Unable and/or unlikely to follow the protocol for any reason

- Alcohol and/or any other drug abuse

- Likelihood of requiring treatment during the study period with drugs not permitted by
the study protocol.

- Abnormal baseline clinical findings considered by the investigator to be indicative
of conditions that might affect study results

- Subjects whose high-resolution anatomic MR scans reveal the presence of a structural
abnormality (other than MS)

Specific exclusion criteria are required for MRI scanning:

- Ferrous objects within the body

- Pregnancy

- Weight inappropriate for height

- Low visual acuity that cannot be corrected with glasses

- History of claustrophobia

- Standard protocol for monitoring based on FDA approved medication will be followed