title: Update on the treatment options for multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Recent progress in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) is remarkable, and the introduction of new therapies is yielding improvements in the management of MS. Furthermore, clinical trials with many different types of agents, especially selected monoclonal antibodies, have been undertaken or are ongoing, and some of the agents involved will probably be available as treatments for MS in the near future. Although these new and promising agents include targeted immunotherapies, some of them have limitations such as associated severe adverse events and the development of neutralizing antibodies. With regard to risk-benefit ratios, pharmacogenetics could shed light on inherited differences in drug metabolism and response, which would make individualized therapy possible in MS. Here, we review the recent progress in current therapeutic strategies for MS, and the potential options for future MS treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan. niino@med.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niino
authors.forename: Hidenao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D018579:Patient Selection; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents