The future of multiple sclerosis treatments

ABSTRACT

Introduction: There are not many conditions in which the last few decades have brought such a major change in the landscape of treatments as is the case of multiple sclerosis (MS). A number of disease modifying treatments (DMTs) are presently available for the treatment of the inflammatory phase of this disabling disease; however, the need for treating neurodegeneration and halting the progression of disability is still unmet.

Areas covered: In this paper we review the available information on existing and emerging DMTs and we discuss their place within the context of different treatment strategies in MS,

Expert commentary: The future of MS treatments should include the development of new treatment strategies tackling disease progression, together with a better understanding of the side-effects and the best sequential strategy of implementation of available and emerging drugs.

KEYWORDS:

• Multiple sclerosis
• immunomodulation
• monoclonal antibodies
• remyelination
• repurposing

Declaration of interest

C. Coclitu has received educational support from Biogen. R. Tanasescu has received research support, support for travel to scientific meetings, or consultancy honoraria from Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, Abvie and Teva. C. S. Constantinescu has received research support, support for travel to scientific meetings, or consultancy honoraria from Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, GW, Merck, Morphosys, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Pasteur MSD, and Teva. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.