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Treatment Options for Multiple Sclerosis: Current and Emerging Therapies

Posted on: 12/05/2011

KM. Gawronski; MM Rainka; MJ Patel; FM. Gengo

Pharmacotherapy; Volume 30, Issue 9; September 2010 :

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, more specifically, the myelin sheath covering of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. This disease requires lifelong disease-modifying therapy, and all of the currently available first-line disease-modifying agents are parenteral formulations only. To date, eight drugs have entered or completed phases II and III clinical trials, four of which are oral drugs. These include five immunomodulators—cladribine, fingolimod, laquinimod, teriflunomide, and dimethyl fumarate—and three monoclonal antibodies— alemtuzumab, daclizumab, and rituximab. Although comparing these new drugs with available therapies is difficult, they do show promise as potential first-line agents for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. This marks a new frontier in the treatment of this disease, as the advent of new oral drugs will lead to increased patient compliance and contribute to longer sustained symptom-free periods and less marked disability. Full Article