Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: emergence of B-cell-targeted therapies.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS, and one of the most common causes of disability in young adults. Over the last decade, new disease-modifying therapies have emerged, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that provide highly targeted therapies with greater efficacy than platform therapies. In particular, monoclonal antibodies directed against CD20-positive B cells have shown remarkable results in recent clinical trials and renewed interest in the mechanism of B cell-depleting therapies to ameliorate relapse activity and progression in MS. Here, we review the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence of approved and emerging mAbs, with a focus on B cell-targeted therapies.
Melbourne Brain Centre and Department of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Ai-Lan
AL
Nguyen
Melbourne Brain Centre and Department of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Melissa
M
Gresle
Multiple Sclerosis Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Tessa
T
Marshall
Melbourne Brain Centre and Department of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.|Eastern Health, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
Helmut
H
Butzkueven
Multiple Sclerosis Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic., Australia.|Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Judith
J
Field
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal