From the FDA Drug Label
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules are indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults.
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE 1. 1 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) TYSABRI is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults.
The new treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) include:
- Dimethyl fumarate (PO), which is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS 1
- Natalizumab (IV), which is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS 2
From the Research
New treatments for multiple sclerosis have expanded significantly in recent years, offering better disease control and quality of life for patients, with the most recent and highest quality study 3 supporting the use of oral disease-modifying therapies such as fingolimod, teriflunomide, and dimethyl fumarate as first-line treatments.
Overview of New Treatments
The treatment landscape for multiple sclerosis (MS) has evolved significantly, with a focus on disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that offer improved efficacy and safety profiles.
- Oral medications like fingolimod, teriflunomide, and dimethyl fumarate have become popular due to their ease of administration and relatively favorable side effect profiles, as noted in 3.
- Injectable monoclonal antibodies such as ocrelizumab and ofatumumab target specific immune cells, providing an alternative to traditional DMTs, with ocrelizumab given as an IV infusion every six months and ofatumumab as a monthly self-injection.
- For aggressive MS, treatments like cladribine and alemtuzumab provide a powerful immune system reset through short treatment courses, as discussed in 4.
Treatment Selection
Treatment selection depends on various factors, including:
- MS type
- Disease activity
- Patient preferences regarding administration method
- Individual risk factors Requiring personalized decision-making between patients and their neurologists, as emphasized in 5.
Key Considerations
- The most recent study 3 highlights the importance of oral disease-modifying therapies in reducing annualized relapse rates and improving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.
- Fingolimod has been shown to be effective in reducing disease activity, but is associated with more side effects than interferon beta-1b, as noted in 3.
- Teriflunomide has a more favorable safety profile, but its efficacy is still being evaluated, with some studies suggesting it may be less effective than interferon beta-1a, as discussed in 3.