An update of teriflunomide for treatment of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

There are a number of oral agents emerging as potential disease-modifying agents in multiple sclerosis (MS). Among these investigational agents, teriflunomide has shown promise in large, multicenter, phase III clinical trials with respect to safety and efficacy in relapsing MS patients, and is the latest disease-modifying agent approved for use in MS patients in the United States. This review will summarize teriflunomide’s historical development, clinical pharmacology, studies in animals, clinical trials, and safety data, and will end with a discussion of the role of teriflunomide in MS in the context of existing treatment options.

Keywords:

• teriflunomide
• multiple sclerosis
• clinical trials
• review

Disclosure

Dr Jiwon Oh has received educational grant support from Teva Neurosciences and consulting fees from EMD-Serono. Dr Paul O’Connor has received personal compensation (for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, or speaking) or grant support (for scholarly activities) from pharmaceutical companies that develop products for MS, including Actelion, Biogen Idec, Celgene, Genzyme, Sanofi-Aventis, EMD Merck Serono, Abbott Labs, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Bayer, Genentech, Lilly, Roche, and Novartis. Dr O’Connor receives consultation fees from the MS Society of Canada, and has received grant support from the MS Society of Canada, the NIH, and Direct MS.