MS-STAT

Treatment tested

• Simvastatin

  HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor

• Encapsulated Simvastatin tablets

Placebo or sham

• Placebo

Other measures (8)

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and at randomisation have entered the secondary progressive stage. Steady progression rather than relapse must be the major cause of increasing disability in the preceding 2 years. Progression can be evident from either an increase of at least one point on the EDSS or clinical documentation of increasing disability. * EDSS 4.0 - 6.5 inclusive * Women of childbearing age will be required to use appropriate methods of contraception to avoid the unlikely teratogenic effects of simvastatin. * Able to give written informed consent * 18 - 65 years Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to give informed consent * Primary progressive MS * Those that have experienced a relapse or have been treated with steroids (both i.v. and oral) within 3 months of the screening visit. These patients may undergo a further screening visit once the 3 month window has expired and may be included if no steroid treatment has been administered in the intervening period. * Patient is already taking or is anticipated to be taking a statin. * Any medications that unfavourably interact with statins: fibrates, nicotinic acid, cyclosporine, azole anti-fungal preparations, macrolideantibiotics, protease inhibitors, nefazodone, verapamil, amiodarone, large amounts of grapefruit juice or alcohol abuse. * The use of immunosuppressants (e.g. azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporine) or disease modifying treatments (avonex, rebif, betaferon, glatiramer) within the previous 6 months. * The use of mitoxantrone if treated within the last 12 months. * If the patient has ever been treated with alemtuzumab. * If screening levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or creatine kinase (CK) are three times the upper limit of normal patients should be excluded. * Patient unable to tolerate baseline scan or scan not of adequate quality for analysis (e.g. too much movement artefact). * If a female patient is pregnant or breast feeding

To determine whether simvastatin at a dose of 80mg can reduce the rate of whole brain atrophy, as measured by MRI, over a 2-year time-period when compared to placebo.