A woman who watched her own mother live with the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) for over 20 years and has now been newly diagnosed with the disease herself has said joining a new vaccine trial targeting a potential underlying cause of the condition was an "obvious choice".
Liz Hutchinson, 48, of Chesterfield, has become the first person in the region - and one of the first in the UK - to sign up to the Horizon trial at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The groundbreaking trial, which is running in up to 10 sites in the UK including the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, is investigating whether an mRNA jab, designed to target Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), could offer a novel treatment pathway for the relapsing-remitting form of MS.
Researchers are exploring this avenue given that EBV, best known for causing glandular fever, is present in almost all individuals with MS and is believed to play a significant role in the condition's development.
The virus, contracted by most people by adulthood, remains dormant in the body for life but can reactivate.
The trial, which is running in up to 10 sites in the UK including the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, is being led nationally by the University of Edinburgh and is sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Moderna.
'Anything that may help has to be a good thing'
Liz was diagnosed with the relapsing-remitting form of MS in October. She said witnessing first-hand the debilitating and worsening impact of the disease on her mum, who has the primary progressive form of the disease, meant she didn't hesitate to join the trial.
"My mum's mobility is pretty poor and her physical abilities have declined, but I was seeing all the issues she had and seeing the same with me. So, joining the trial was an obvious choice. Anything that may help researchers explore new ways to manage the progression of MS has to be a good thing."
Globally, 180 patients newly diagnosed with MS who have EBV will be recruited into the trial.
The early-stage Phase 2 trial will specifically examine how the investigational vaccine impacts new MS disease activity.
To ensure no bias in the results, the study is blinded - meaning neither the doctors or nurses or trial participants will know whether they have had the investigational vaccine or a placebo until the trial concludes.
Liz, who is due to have her third dose of the investigational vaccine or a placebo before the end of May, will also keep an electronic diary to record symptoms and reactions following the jab.
Sheffield plays leading role in MS research
In Sheffield the trial is being supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Sheffield Clinical Research Facility and the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
"Alongside standard care, participants have monthly MRI scans to check for signs of disease activity, and we ask them to let us know about any new or worsening symptoms. The team also reviews their daily diary entries after each vaccination so we can assess how they are doing," Hannah Burns, Research Sister at the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility, added.
If successful, the trial will help scientists understand if population-wide vaccination against EBV might one day play a role in MS prevention.
"If this research helps improve our understanding of MS and potentially benefits others in the future, I'm glad to be involved." Liz added.
Professor Basil Sharrack, Consultant Neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Principal Investigator of the trial, said: "Over the years Sheffield has been at the forefront of leading international MS research, including testing the use of stem cell transplantation to slow and reverse disease related disability accumulation or progression. This is an exciting new trial offering another potential avenue to stop MS in its tracks. This is an early phase trial testing an investigational vaccine so first and foremostly we will look to test safety but by using this common virus to retrain the immune system this trial offers potential real hope to those living with MS. The UK is the first country outside the US to open this trial so we are delighted that Sheffield is once again at the helm of game-changing research and innovation."
