Method for predicting post-therapy prognosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patient, and method for determining applicability of novel therapy

A method for determining the therapeutic effect of an IL-6 inhibitor on a relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patient and treating the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) obtaining a biological sample from the patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, wherein the biological sample comprises a whole blood or peripheral blood sample;
• (ii) measuring the amount of a plasmablast contained in the biological sample isolated from the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patient;
• (iii) determining that the therapeutic effect of the IL-6 inhibitor is high when the amount of the plasmablast measured in the patient is high as compared with a healthy individual;
• and
• (iv) administering an amount of the IL-6 inhibitor to the patient effective to treat the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in the patient exhibiting a high amount of plasmablast.