Research topic: Oral meds for MS are coming
by gary sullivan
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The FDA recently approved the marketing of Ampyra, formerly known as Fampridine-SR, for its ability to improve walking in people with all kinds of MS — making it the first oral medication specifically developed for MS symptoms.
Cladribine, an oral disease modifying therapy for relapsing forms of MS, is also applying for marketing approval. A potent chemotherapy drug, Cladribine kills immune T cells and B cells, both of which are thought to be involved in immune attacks in MS. These are just two of a number of experimental MS drugs that are making news.
There are also the antiinflammatories: BG00012 (or BG-12), Laquinimod and Teriflunomide. Fingolimod (or FTY720), an immunosuppressant, keeps harmful immune cells out of the brain and spinal cord where they can cause the damage seen in MS. All are taken as pills.
For even more information about the oral MS drugs — including clinical trials that are currently recruiting participants — visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/news and type the name of a drug into the search field.
The time from here to there
The era of the oral MS drugs is expected to begin this year. But that doesn’t mean that every drug being tested now will be available this year — or even next. And it’s always possible that a therapy, however promising, will be sent back to the drawing board.
Minocycline, an antibiotic in pill form, is currently being studied in a phase III clinical trial — the last step before submission to the FDA for approval — but the study won’t be completed until at least late 2015. And FDA approval could take as long as six months to a year after that.
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Get to know them by name
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- BG00012 (dimethyl fumarate)
- Cladribine
- Estriol
- Fampridine-SR
- Fingolimod (FTY720)
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- Laquinimod
- Minocycline
- MN-166
- Pioglitazone (Actos)
- Riluzole (Rilutek)
- SB-683699
- Teriflunomide