From Natural Product to the First Oral Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis: The Discovery of FTY720 (Gilenya™)?
Multiple sclerosis is a devastating chronic autoimmune disease affecting women and men of all ages. Inflammation of the central nervous system causes demyelination and ultimately neuropsychological dysfunction. Myriocin, a natural product with strong immunosuppressant activity was interrogated leading to a new class of immunomodulator with a unique mode of action. In this review, we will summarize these findings, the mechanism hypothesis and discuss the data's ultimately leading to the approval of Gilenya™ as the first oral treatment for multiple sclerosis.
Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Electronic address: frederic.zecri@novartis.com.
Frédéric J
FJ
Zécri
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D001688:Biological Products; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride