Emerging oral therapies for multiple sclerosis

doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2007.01561..x

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Wiley InterScience

International Journal of Clinical Practice

Volume 61 Issue 11, Pages 1922 - 1930

Published Online: 3 Sep 2007

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REVIEW ARTICLE

Emerging oral therapies for multiple sclerosis

B. A. Cohen ¹*, P. Rieckmann ²

¹ Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
² Klinische Forschungsgruppe für Multiple Sklerose, Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik (Kopfklinik), Julius-Maximilians-Universitat, Würzburg, Germany

Correspondence to Dr Bruce A. Cohen,
Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Tel.: 312 908 5631
Fax: 312 908 5073
Email: bac106@northwestern.edu

Disclosures
BC has received consulting and speaker honoraria from the following companies: Berlex, EMD Serono, Inc. (an affiliate of Merck Serono KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Novartis, Pfizer, Teva Neuroscience.
PR has received consulting and speaker honoraria from the following companies: Biogen Idec, Bayer Schering Pharma, Merck Serono International S.A. (an affiliate of Merck Serono KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Novartis, sanofi aventis, Teva Neuroscience.

*Current address: Multiple Sclerosis Research Chair, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Summary

Background: Current disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) have positively affected the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS); however, the requirement for long-term injections imposes a burden on patients and may lead to reduced adherence in some cases. Furthermore, not all patients respond adequately to current DMDs, suggesting that certain patients require different therapeutic approaches. Therefore, alternative MS treatments with less invasive routes of administration and new modes of action are needed to expand the current treatment repertoire, increase patient satisfaction and adherence, and thereby improve efficacy.

Discussion: This review discusses the current unmet need for an orally administered treatment for RRMS, including potential benefits of this route of administration, and implications for improved treatment outcomes. Oral drugs that are currently in Phase II/III clinical development are discussed.

Paper received May 2007, accepted August 2007

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1742-1241.2007.01561..x About DOI