title: Novel diagnostic tools and solutions for multiple sclerosis treatment: a patent review (2009 - 2014).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With > 2 million people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) worldwide, the elucidation of its etiopathogenesis is of highest interest. Ongoing research in medicine, molecular biology, chemistry and physics aims to improve the life of MS patients by increasing efficacy and decreasing adverse side effects of presently available drugs. A precise diagnosis of this complex disease, which can take different courses, is fundamental to finding an efficient treatment strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a summary of diagnostic and therapeutic patents granted between 2009 and 2014. Diagnostic inventions use both genetic and proteomic approaches or measure cerebral venous hemodynamics. Instead, new treatments rely on small molecules and/or the active manipulation of proteins that are involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are some promising approaches among recently published patents. In particular, genetic profiling for diagnosis, combination of novel drugs with FDA-approved drugs to reduce side effects, and the personalisation of MS treatments according to a more defined diagnosis are considered as important. In the light of the latest developments, we discuss the complex picture of MS, which we assume to be different events connected by a causal chain consisting of circulatory abnormalities, altered redox processes in CNS immune cells, oligodendropathy, inflammation and finally autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Firenze, Interdepartmental Laboratory of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology (www.peptlab.eu), Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Schiff' , Via della Lastruccia 13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino , Italy +39 055 4573561 ; +39 055 4574912 ; annamaria.papini@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Papini
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: König
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017277:Drug Approval; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
keywords: autoimmunity; circulatory abnormality; inflammation; oligodendropathy; redox processes