Are current disease-modifying therapeutics in multiple sclerosis justified on the basis of studies in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis?

The precise aetio-pathology of multiple sclerosis remains elusive. However, important recent advances have been made and several therapies have been licensed for clinical use. Many of these were developed, validated or tested in the animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). This systematic review aims to assess whether the current disease modifying treatments and those that are the closest to the clinic are justified on the basis of the results of EAE studies. We discuss some aspects of the utility and caveats of EAE as a model for multiple sclerosis drug development.