title: Novel therapeutics in multiple sclerosis management: clinical applications.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects an estimated 300,000 individuals in the United States. No cure exists and although there is a lack of consensus on management, strategies to modify disease course are available. These strategies involve initiating disease-modifying therapies that have been found to slow disease progression and prevent disability symptoms, thereby improving function for MS patients. The overall goal of early disease management is to intervene prior to irreversible neuronal destruction in order to delay disability progression and improve quality of life. Maintaining a lower level of disability for a longer period of time postpones and ultimately attempts to prevent reaching a level of immobility and irreversible disability. However, due to the complex nature of disease and its unique, individual patient course, no patient can be treated alike and no patient responds to therapy similarly. Therefore, MS research is continuous in its evolution of therapeutic development, focusing on neuroprotective effects and agents with distinctive mechanisms of action allowing for unique safety and efficacy profiles. Investigations include novel oral agents and monoclonal antibodies. Many of the approved agents also are continually being investigated in order to evaluate comparative data, the most appropriate means of implementing subsequent therapy upon failure, responsiveness to therapeutic agent when switched, and long-term safety and efficacy. This multimedia webcast educational activity will cover the current state of MS science, current therapies in MS, emerging treatments in clinical trials for MS as well as differences between physicians in diagnosis and management of MS and their evolving practices.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Director, Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leist
authors.affiliation: President, Advanced Neurosciences Institute, President, NeuroNexus Center for Neurology Education and Research, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: Samuel F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: President, Florida Society of Neurology, Medical Director, Neurologique, Ponte Vedra, FL.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kantor
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Neurology, Director, Multiple Sclerosis, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Clyde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Markowitz
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents