Phase II Study of Clemastine for Remyelination of Optic Nerves

Clemastine fumarate is a first-generation antihistamine that has also been found to induce oligodendrocyte differentiation. In this phase II trial, investigators randomized 50 patients (average age, 40) with multiple sclerosis (MS) disease duration <15 years, no optic neuritis in the prior 6 months, and abnormal visual evoked potential (VEP) latency in at least one eye. Group 1 received treatment for 90 days followed by placebo for 60 days. Group 2 received placebo for 90 days followed by treatment for 60 days.

Enrolled patients had a mild disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale score = 2.2) and a mean disease duration of 5 years, and 56% of patients had a history of optic neuritis. Compared with baseline, VEP latency was reduced by 1.7…