Anti-TNF antibodies have not yet been tested. Tests of one show therapies not to work, and the other is still in testing. An interesting area of study may be matrix metaprotinase inhibitors, treatments which block the enzymes that allow the lymphocyte to go through the blood-brain barrier into the brain, but very little clinical research in humans has been done to date. Early studies of this approach have not worked. Finally, combination therapies are being considered.
Many different combinations are possible.
A very rigorous trial that takes patients who have been on Avenex, one of the interferons, for about 6 months, and then adds Copaxone is just being started. Multiple MRIs are to be used to see whether the disease is ameliorated by this combination. This is not by any means a complete list. The field is extremely active and there are many worthy ideas. None of the currently available treatments are able to control the disease completely, so new therapies and better ways to administer them must be pursued.