Trial results for emerging MS therapies

The largest international annual conference on basic and clinical research in MS was held in Amsterdam recently by the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ECTRIMS). Results of several clinical trials of new therapies were presented which suggest a promising future for further MS treatments.

New oral drug BG -12 has shown surprisingly good efficacy in the recently completed phase II trial. This drug belongs to a class of compounds known as fumarates, which act by a different biological pathway to currently available MS drugs. It modifies the immune system, but there is some evidence that it may also have neuroprotective effects. BG -12 showed at least a 50% reduction in relapses and 38% reduction in disability progression with very significant reductions in lesions visible by MRI. These benefits appear to be in line with some of the MS treatments already approved for use, and with a favourable safety profile, it is also likely that BG -12 may be used in combination with existing treatments.

Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody, currently used for the treatment of some types of leukaemia. Results of the five year follow-up of the trials of Alemtuzumab in MS showed it was more effective than interferon-beta in reducing relapse rates in early aggressive cases of MS and it also showed a sustained effect in improving disability. That being said, some significant side-effects can occur such as opportunistic infections and secondary-autoimmune thyroiditis.

Phase III trial results for the oral drug Teriflunomide have previously been released to the public, but have now been published in the peer-reviewed New England Journal of Medicine. The results show that the efficacy of Teriflunomide in reducing relapses and MRI-visible lesions appears to be similar to the interferons. The side-effect profile is also reasonable with no significant increase in opportunistic infections.

It will still be some time before these new therapies can pass through the regulatory frameworks for new medicines, but the landscape for MS treatment is set to change with greatly increased options for people with MS in the near future.