Pharmacotherapy for multiple sclerosis: progress and prospects.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a major inflammatory component, and constitutes the most common progressive and disabling neurological condition in young adults. Currently available therapies predominantly include biological agents (beta-interferon and a mAb to a cell adhesion molecule [integrin] on lymphocytes that is involved in the adhesion of lymphocytes to the blood-brain barrier) that attenuate the neuroinflammatory response; however, the ability of these agents to modify the disease course of MS is only modest at best. Because of the inadequacy of current treatment options, there is a need for the development of more effective disease-modifying therapies (eg, sodium channel blockers), along with new drugs to treat specific symptoms of MS, such as fatigue.
MS Therapeutics Ltd, Beechey House, 87 Church Street, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 7AW, UK. alan.palmer@mstherapeutics.com
Alan M
AM
Palmer
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology