{"id":62707,"date":"2026-07-15T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/?p=2579595"},"modified":"2026-07-15T18:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T18:00:00","slug":"best-treatment-for-multiple-sclerosis-may-be-antivirals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/2026\/07\/15\/best-treatment-for-multiple-sclerosis-may-be-antivirals\/","title":{"rendered":"Best treatment for multiple sclerosis may be antivirals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1350\" height=\"899\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg\" alt=\"A scanning electron micrograph of immune cells called microglial cells (round) ingesting specialised cells called oligodendrocytes (branched) that maintain the myelin sheath around nerves, which is thought to occur in multiple sclerosis\" class=\"wp-image-2579720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=196,131 196w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=301,200 301w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=415,276 415w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=602,401 602w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=830,553 830w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=105,70 105w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305300761.jpg?resize=210,140 210w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><div class=\"wp-image__caption--icon\"><svg width=\"15\" height=\"15\" viewbox=\"0 0 15 15\"><use href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/themes\/newscientist\/images\/icon-circle-chevron.svg#icon-circle-chevron\"><\/use><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"wp-image__caption--text\">Microglial immune cells (round) ingesting specialised cells called oligodendrocytes (branched) that maintain the myelin sheaths around nerves. This process is thought to occur in multiple sclerosis<\/div><div class=\"wp-image__caption--credit\">Science Photo Library<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) might be antivirals that target the Epstein-Barr virus. Pharmaceutical companies are now being called on to develop such <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/subject\/drugs\/\">drugs<\/a> after researchers studied the immune responses of people with and without the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere aren\u2019t good Epstein-Barr virus drugs currently available, but they can be developed,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/researchers.mgh.harvard.edu\/profile\/18292988\/Michael-Levy\">Michael Levy<\/a> at Harvard Medical School. \u201cThat might be the most useful specific therapy for MS in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"read-more__standard wp-block-newscientist-read-more\">\n\t\t<a class=\"read-more__standard--wrapper no-animation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2524077-huge-study-reveals-how-epstein-barr-virus-may-cause-multiple-sclerosis\/\">\n\t\t\t<strong>Read more<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<p>Huge study reveals how Epstein-Barr virus may cause multiple sclerosis<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MS is caused by an immune attack on myelin, a fatty sleeve that wraps around nerves. The loss of myelin reduces their ability to transmit signals and can cause a wide range of symptoms, including muscle weakness. Drugs that suppress the immune system can slow the progression of the condition.<\/p>\n<div class=\"advert-wrapper advert__mid-article\">\n\t<div class=\"advert\">\n\t\t<div class=\"advert__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"advert__copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAdvertisement\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"advert__slot\" id=\"mid-article-slot\">\n\t\t\t\t<script>\n\t\t\t\t\tif( window?.adverts?.addToArray ) {\n\t\t\t\t\t\twindow.adverts.addToArray( {\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"pos\": \"mid-article-slot\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t} );\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is strong evidence that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes mononucleosis, or glandular fever, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2304340-strongest-evidence-yet-that-ms-is-caused-by-epstein-barr-virus\/\">is also the cause of MS<\/a>. \u201cI think most MS researchers now would agree that EBV plays a major role in the development of the disease,\u201d says team member <a href=\"https:\/\/hsph.harvard.edu\/profile\/kjetil-bjornevik\/\">Kjetil Bjornevik<\/a> at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But exactly how remains a mystery. Almost everyone is infected with EBV during their childhood or teen years. It mainly infects immune cells known as B-cells, where it can remain dormant<strong> <\/strong>for the rest of a person\u2019s life. But in some cells, the virus can reactivate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2513522-this-virus-infects-most-of-us-but-why-do-only-some-get-very-ill\/\">The big question is why only around 1 in 1000 people develop MS<\/a> when nearly everyone gets EBV. This suggests there is something different about the immune response to EBV in people who go on to develop MS, says team member <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charcot-ms.org\/faculty\/natalia-drosu\">Natalia Drosu<\/a> at Massachusetts General Hospital. \u201cOur question for this study was: in people with MS, what parts of EBV does the immune system respond to? And do those responses look different from people who don\u2019t have MS?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team focused on immune cells known as CD4 T-cells, which circulate in the body. Although these aren\u2019t the cells that directly attack myelin, there are multiple lines of evidence suggesting they play a role in MS, says Drosu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team found that, in 30 people with MS, most of the CD4 T-cells targeting EBV were specifically targeting viral proteins produced when the virus is actively replicating, rather than the proteins associated with its dormant stage. What\u2019s more, people with MS produced twice as many of these cells, on average, as 30 people without the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-newscientist-newsletter-promotion\">\n\t<div class=\"newsletter-promotion__content\">\n\t\t<p class=\"newsletter-promotion__tagline\">Free newsletter<\/p>\n\t\t<h4 class=\"newsletter-promotion__title\">\n\t\t\tSign up to Health Check\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t<p class=\"newsletter-promotion__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"newsletter-promotion__actions\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"button button--secondary button--has-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/sign-up\/health\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<span>Sign up to newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" style=\"--fill-color: #000\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/themes\/newscientist\/images\/icon-arrow-right.svg#icon-arrow-right\"><\/use>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"newsletter-promotion__background\">\n\t\t<span class=\"newsletter-promotion__gradient\"><\/span>\n\t\t<div class=\"newsletter-promotion__image__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/16102046\/health_check_2025_ed_newsletter_landingtiles_2400px10.jpg?w=600&amp;h=450&amp;crop=1\" class=\"attachment-4x3-sm size-4x3-sm wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 432px) 412px, (min-width: 300px) 373px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/16102046\/health_check_2025_ed_newsletter_landingtiles_2400px10.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/16102046\/health_check_2025_ed_newsletter_landingtiles_2400px10.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/16102046\/health_check_2025_ed_newsletter_landingtiles_2400px10.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/16102046\/health_check_2025_ed_newsletter_landingtiles_2400px10.jpg?resize=800,600 800w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/16102046\/health_check_2025_ed_newsletter_landingtiles_2400px10.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/16102046\/health_check_2025_ed_newsletter_landingtiles_2400px10.jpg?resize=1920,1440 1920w\">\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers then looked at T-cells in 60 people with MS before and after they began drug treatments that reduce their number of B-cells. They found these treatments reduced the T-cell response to EBV almost to the levels seen in people without MS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, the team found low levels of EBV in the saliva of these people before they were treated to reduce their number of B-cells, which shows that the virus was replicating in their bodies. After treatment, viral levels dropped below detectable levels in most people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The thinking has been that B-cells help drive the harmful immune response in people with MS, says Levy, and this is why drugs that reduce B-cell levels are effective. But the results suggest these drugs also work by eliminating B-cells infected with EBV, he says, thereby reducing the immune response caused by active viral replication. \u201cWe\u2019re thinking that depleting B-cells is also depleting the reservoir of the Epstein-Barr virus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If so, targeting EBV directly with antivirals might be just as effective as B-cell-depleting drugs, but without the undesirable side effects of treatments that weaken the immune system, such as an increased risk of infections. \u201cI think a lot of patients would prefer a specific drug,\u201d says Bjornevik. \u201cIf we can show that an antiviral had a similar effect as the most effective MS drugs, I think there will be a big market for that drug.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another approach already being trialled for treating MS is using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2524382-we-may-finally-have-a-cure-for-many-different-autoimmune-conditions\/\">modified immune cells called CAR T-cells<\/a>. While existing drugs merely reduce B-cell levels, CAR T-cells can temporarily eliminate them altogether. Dozens of people with MS have gone into remission after CAR-T treatment, says Levy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"read-more__with-image wp-block-newscientist-read-more\">\n\t\t<a class=\"read-more__with-image--wrapper no-animation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2504061-strongest-evidence-yet-that-the-epstein-barr-virus-causes-lupus\/\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"read-more__with-image--image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?w=900&amp;h=600&amp;crop=1\" class=\"attachment-3x2-md size-3x2-md wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 284px, calc(99.13vw - 43px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=196,131 196w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=301,201 301w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=415,277 415w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=602,401 602w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=830,553 830w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=105,70 105w, https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/12142807\/SEI_274072131.jpg?resize=210,140 210w\">\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"read-more__with-image--link-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<span>Strongest evidence yet that the Epstein-Barr virus causes lupus<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"read-more__with-image--strapline\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Lupus has been linked to the Epstein-Barr virus \u2013 which causes glandular fever, or mono \u2013 before, but we now have evidence of how it can bring about the autoimmune condition\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But EBV might linger in some other cell types and reinfect B-cells as they slowly recover in the years after the CAR T-cell treatment, he says. \u201cThen we would need the antivirals\u2026 so we just have to wait and see.\u201d CAR T-cells can also have serious side effects, says Bjornevik, so antivirals could be safer as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2386557-vaccine-shows-promise-against-the-virus-linked-to-multiple-sclerosis\/\">vaccines against EBV under development<\/a>. \u201cIf people don\u2019t get infected with EBV, their risk of MS would be virtually zero,\u201d says Drosu. \u201cSo I think vaccines are [a] very promising strategy to eradicate MS.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But 1000 people would have to be vaccinated to prevent just one case of MS, Levy points out, so it isn\u2019t clear if EBV would be justified for preventing MS alone. However, EBV causes many other problems, including a number of cancers, and has also been linked to other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"journal-reference__wrapper wp-block-newscientist-read-more\">\n\t<strong>Journal reference:<\/strong>\n\t<p>\n\t\t<em>Science Translational Medicine<\/em>\n\t\t<a class=\"journal-reference__link no-animation\" href=\"http:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/scitranslmed.adz6566\">\n\t\t\tDOI: 10.1126\/scitranslmed.adz6566\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Low levels of replicating Epstein-Barr viruses might be the main driver of the autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis. This may mean that targeting them would be as effective as suppressing the immune system, with fewer side effects<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":884,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3455,64,3459],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conditions","category-health","category-medical-drugs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62707"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/884"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62707"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62807,"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62707\/revisions\/62807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}