Indian Journal of Medical Research (Jan 2015)

Multiple sclerosis - New treatment modalities

  • Rocco Totaro,
  • Caterina Di Carmine,
  • Carmine Marini,
  • Antonio Carolei

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-5916.174543
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 142, no. 6
pp. 647 – 654

Abstract

Read online

Ever since the introduction of the first disease modifying therapies, the concept of multiple sclerosis treatment algorithms developed ceaselessly. The increasing number of available drugs is paralleled by impelling issue of ensuring the most appropriate treatment to the right patient at the right time. The purpose of this review is to describe novel agents recently approved for multiple sclerosis treatment, namely teriflunomide, alemtuzumab and dimethylfumarate, focusing on mechanism of action, efficacy data in experimental setting, safety and tolerability. The place in therapy of newer treatment implies careful balancing of risk-benefit profile as well as accurate patient selection. Hence the widening of therapeutic arsenal provides greater opportunity for personalized therapy but also entails a complex trade-off between efficacy, tolerability, safety and eventually patient preference.

Keywords