Safety and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Demonstrate Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 3 to 6.5 atscreening.

2. Documented EDSS progression in the 2 years prior to screening of 1 point or greaterfor patients with an EDSS score less than 6 at baseline, and greater than or equalto 0.5 for patients with an EDSS score greater than or equal to 6.0 at baseline *.

• If documented EDSS scores are not available, a written summary of the clinicalevidence of disability progression over the last 2 years, and retrospectiveassessment of EDSS score from data in the medical records, must be submitted forreview by the principal investigators.

3. Documented initial onset characterized by a relapsing-remitting course as describedin the Diagnostic Criteria.

4. Age ≥ 18 ≤ 75 years.

5. Weight > 40 kg.

6. Hematocrit ≥ 28 % (with or without transfusion support).

7. Platelet count > 100,000 per μL (with or without transfusion support).

8. Willingness to use at least 1 reliable method of birth control (e.g., abstinence,oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, barrier method with spermicide, orsurgical sterilization) throughout the study for all men and women of childbearingpotential.

9. Willingness to participate in all PHOMS Study tests, visits, and procedures (including the ECP), as outlined in the informed consent.

10. Patients must have adequate peripheral venous access to initiate ECP therapy, andcentral line insertion shall be required.

11. The patient agrees to participate in the trial and signs the PHOMS Study informedconsent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Absolute medical contraindication to receive ECP.

2. Laboratory evidence of any of the following:

• White blood cells (WBC) < 2,000 cells per uL.

• Serum transaminase levels > x 2 UNL.

• Creatinine Clearance < 60 mL/min.

3. Concurrent diagnosis of a neurological condition that would interfere with theassessment of MS, or an autoimmune disease or inflammatory condition that ischronically treated with immunosuppressive agents.

4. Evidence of known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active (notincluding latent) Hepatitis B.

5. Uncontrolled infection requiring treatment at study entry.

6. Hypersensitivity or allergy to psoralen (methoxalen).

7. Hypersensitivity or allergy to both heparin and citrate products (If hypersensitiveor allergic to only one of these products, exclusion does not apply).

8. Inability to tolerate fluid changes associated with ECP (e.g., inadequate renal,hepatic, pulmonary and cardiac function leading to enable patient to tolerateextracorporeal volume shifts associated with ECP).

9. Presence of aphakia or photosensitive disease (systemic lupus erythematosus,porphyrias, etc.).

10. Women who are pregnant and/or lactating.

11. Use of any investigational drug/treatment at the time of enrollment or within theprevious 60 days, or five elimination half-lives, or until the expectedpharmodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer.

12. Treatment with any of the medications or procedures listed below:

• Natalizumab, or rituximab within 3 months prior to randomization.

• Cyclophosphamide within 1 year prior to randomization.

• Mitoxantrone, ofatumumab, ocrelizumab, cladribine, or daclizumab within 1 yearsprior to randomization.

• Intravenous immunoglobulin within 3 months prior to randomization.

• Plasmapheresis within 3 months prior to randomization.

13. Inability to undergo MRI scans.

14. Contraindication to gadolinium due to past allergic, hypersensitive, or adversereaction or impaired renal function. Patients receiving a steroid prep prior togadolinium administration due to history of hypersensitivity or allergy to otheragents or due to prior mild reaction to gadolinium will not be excluded from thestudy.

15. Poor venous access.

16. Previous history of skin cancer, leukemia / lymphoma / myeloma, or bone marrowtransplant.

17. Patients taking Coumadin who are unable to switch from oral anticoagulants toenoxaparin.

18. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

19. Poor cardiac function.

20. Severe hypotension.

21. Any other disease or condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, couldinterfere with participation according to the PHOMS Study Protocol, or with theability of the patients to cooperate and comply with study procedures.

22. Inability to provide informed consent.