Vaccine And Method For Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Methods and compositions are provided for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in which there is accumulation of misfolded and/or aggregated proteins, excluding prion diseases. In particular, the invention relates to treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Parkinson's disease (PD), by administration of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii).

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder or disease in which there is accumulation of misfolded and/or aggregated proteins, excluding prion-related diseases, said method comprising administering to an individual in need an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii). 
     
     
         25 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein said neurodegenerative disease or disorder is selected from the group consisting of Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. 
     
     
         26 . A method in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said agent is Copolymer 1. 
     
     
         27 . A method in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said agent is a Copolymer 1-related peptide or a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide. 
     
     
         28 . A method in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said agent is T cells which have been activated by Copolymer 1. 
     
     
         29 . A method for reducing disease progression, and/or for protection from neurodegeneration and/or protection from glutamate toxicity in a patient suffering from a neurodegenerative disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, which comprises immunizing said patient with an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii). 
     
     
         30 . A method for reducing disease progression, and/or for protection from neuodegeneration and/or protection from glutamate toxicity in a patient suffering from a neurodegenerative disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, which comprises administering to said patient in need a therapeutically effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii). 
     
     
         31 . A method for reducing disease progression, and/or for protection from neurodegeneration and/or protection from glutamate toxicity in a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease, which comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii). 
     
     
         32 . A method for reducing disease progression, and/or for protection from neurodegeneration and/or protection from glutamate toxicity in a patient suffering from Huntington's disease, which comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii). 
     
     
         33 . A method for reducing disease progression, and/or for protection from neurodegeneration and/or protection from glutamate toxicity in a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease, which comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii). 
     
     
         34 . A method for treatment of a patient suffering from a neurodegenerative disease or disorderselected from the group consisting of Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, which comprises immunizing said patient with a vaccine comprising an amount of Copolymer 1 effective for reducing disease progression in said patient. 
     
     
         35 . A method for treatment of a patient suffering from neurodegenerative disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, which comprises immunizing said patient with a vaccine comprising an amount of Copolymer 1 effective for protection from neurodegeneration in said patient. 
     
     
         36 . A method for treating or preventing neurodegeneration and cognitive decline and dysfunction associated with Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, said method comprising administering to an individual in need an agent selected from the group consisiting of (i) Copolymer, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii). 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said agent is Copolymer 1.