Monoclonal Antibodies: Present and Future in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (Based on the Proceedings of the 32nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis - ECTRIMS)

Abstract

The development of new highly effective medications with acceptable safety profile targeted at the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most important problems of modern neurology. In recent years, MS pathogenesis studies and clinical trials of new treatments enabled regulatory authorities of many countries to approve the use of monoclonal antibody pharmaceuticals. At the 32nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), special consideration was given to natalizumab, alemtuzumab, daclizumab, ocrelizumab, rituximab, opicinumab, and ofatumumab. This publication provides an overview of the main results of the Congress. It was noted that decrease of disability rate in MS patients with a view to completely stopping disease progression is the most important objective of the use of the modern medications modifying MS course (MMMSC). Careful analysis is required to assess the long-term effects of the MMMSC and switching algorithms from the first line of MS therapy to the second one, as well as subsequent switching to the other regimens.

Keywords

• multiple sclerosis
• monoclonal antibodies
• clinical studies