Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates there about 400,000 MS patients in the U.S, with a further 200 people diagnosed each week. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), people with MS will experience the first symptoms of MS between the ages of 20 and 40. Although there is no cure for MS, there are a number of medications available to alleviate symptoms of the disease and slow progression. In addition, there are a number of MS drugs currently in development.
Laquinimod
Laquinimod is a drug treatment for people with relapsing remitting MS, and as of July 2010 was in phase III clinical trials. Laquinimod is an oral drug and works by hindering the passage of immune cells into the brain and spinal cord. According to 2005 research published in "Neurology," laquinimod was effective in suppressing development of active lesions in relapsing MS. In addition, lead author, C.Polman, noted that there were "no clinical signs of undesired inflammatory manifestations."
Daclizumab
Daclizumab is a a humanised monoclonal antibody, which as of July 2010 was in phase II clinical trials. According to a 2010 research paper published in "The Lancet Neurology," daclizumab reduced disease activity in patients with active relapsing MS receiving interferon beta treatment. The lead author, Daniel Wynn, said, "Add-on daclizumab treatment reduced the number of new or enlarged gadolinium contrast-enhancing lesions compared with interferon beta alone and might reduce multiple sclerosis disease activity to a greater extent than interferon beta alone."
Fingolimod
Fingolimod is an oral drug for relapsing remitting MS. As of July 2010, it was in phase III clinical trials. Fingolimod exerts its therapeutic effect by acting on lymphocytes, the white blood cells which are involved in autoimmune attack on the myelin sheath of nerve cells. According to The Multiple Sclerosis Trust, in a six-month, phase II clinical trial of fingolimod involving relapsing remitting MS patients, inflammation was significantly reduced in patients taking fingolimod compared to those on placebo.
Tovaxin
Tovaxin is a T-cell therapy in development for the treatment of MS. As of July 2010, it was in phase IIb clinical trials. In April 2010, key efficacy data was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 62nd Annual Meeting held in Toronto, Canada. The data revealed that 83 percent of patients treated with Tovaxin remaining relapse free at the end of the 52-week phase IIb study. In addition, more than 16 percent of Tovaxin-treated patients experienced sustained improvements in disability scores.
References
- National Multiple Scleosis Society: Who gets MS?
- NINDS: Multiple Sclerosis Information Page
- Multiple Sclerosis Trust: Drugs in development
- Neurology: Treatment with laquinimod reduces development of active MRI lesions in relapsing MS
- The Lancet Neurology: Daclizumab in active relapsing multiple sclerosis (CHOICE study): a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on trial with interferon beta
