Identification of targets and new developments in the treatment of multiple sclerosis--focus on cladribine.
Orally available disease-modifying drugs for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) represent an unmet need for this chronic and debilitating disease. Among 5 currently investigated drugs at phase 3 clinical stage, promising efficacy data for fingolimod and oral cladribine have recently been published. However, benefits need to be weighed against the risks to define the role of these compounds within current treatment regimens. In this review, data on the efficacy of a promising compound, oral cladribine, are discussed and balanced with known and anticipated risks in a postmarketing era, and finally gives an outlook on the potential place of this drug in treatment algorithms for MS in the future.
Warnke
Clemens
C
Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
Wiendl
Heinz
H
Hartung
Hans-Peter
HP
Stüve
Olaf
O
Kieseier
Bernd C
BC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D017338:Cladribine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D017338:Cladribine; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine