MS Treatment Advances: New Therapies Offer Hope
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) treatment has seen significant advances with numerous disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved. Fingolimod (Gilenya) pioneered this by becoming the first DMT approved for pediatric MS. Meanwhile, experimental therapies like hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are being developed globally.
Over a dozen DMTs are now available, each targeting different forms of MS. Cladribine (Mavenclad) treats relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS), while siponimod (Mayzent) shows effectiveness in reducing relapse rates in active SPMS. Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) is the first approved for primary progressive MS (PPMS) and all four types of MS. Ublituximab (Briumvi) is the latest addition, approved for RRMS, SPMS, and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
Ponesimod (Ponvory) has demonstrated reduced annual relapses in relapsing types of MS compared to teriflunomide (Aubagio). However, daclizumab (Zinbryta) was withdrawn due to potential side effects. Experimental therapies like ibudilast, clemastine fumarate, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are showing promise in treating MS.
The MS treatment landscape continues to evolve, with new DMTs and experimental therapies offering hope for more effective and safer treatments. These advances reflect the collaborative efforts of research institutions and medical centers worldwide.
