Multiple Sclerosis - Secondary Progressive Multi-Arm Randomisation Trial

UPDATE 18th July 2014 MS-SMART is not open yet.........
The screening  process (to find out if the trial may be suitable for you) has not started.  We will update you when we have further news.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling and progressive neurological disease that affects approximately 100,000 people in the UK.  The secondary progressive (SPMS) stage of disease results not in individual attacks but slow, cumulative and irreversible disability affecting walking, balance, vision, cognition, pain control and bladder and bowel function. Critically, and unlike early disease, there is no proven treatment for the late stage of MS.  This is therefore an urgent and major unmet health need. 

MS-SMART will evaluate three drugs (ibudilast, riluzole, amiloride) against a placebo (a dummy drug). These 3 drugs have shown some promise in MS (and in particular in SPMS). 

Participants in MS-SMART will have clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) assessments over 2 years.

The screening process for MS-SMART will start when the trial opens. Everyone interested in taking part in this trial will first of all be screened to make sure the trial is suitable for them. The screening process is made up of several stages and is very detailed. Some stages of the screening process will take place at a clinic visit.  Only once the full screening process has taken place will the medical teams know whether the trial is suitable for someone and invite them to participate in the MS-SMART trial.

Listed below is the MAIN criteria for taking part in the trial:
  • Secondary Progressive MS
  • Not on DMT (disease modifying treatment)
  • Still able to walk at least 20 metres (with the support of 2 crutches) or up to 500 metres without help
  • Aged 25-65 (inclusive)

How is MS-SMART funded?

The MS-SMART trial is independent research awarded by the NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme (EME) and funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society) and managed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on behalf of the MRC-NIHR partnership.  The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not those of the MRC, NHS, NIHR, MS Society or the Department of Health.

If you're interested in finding out about the trial, and whether it might be suitable for you, why not let us know?

The team co-ordinating this research (University College London and the University of Edinburgh) will update you in general about the progress of this trial. Research staff at trial centres will also be in contact to discuss the trial in more detail, but this might not be for a while yet.

Progress will be updated on this website.

News
Please note, we are not responsible for the accuracy of  information about MS-SMART provided on other sites, or by parties external to the MS-SMART researchers.   Last updated: 18-07-2014