Alemtuzumab in the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by CNS inflammation, demyelination and cellular damage with atrophy. Most patients with MS initially present with a relapsing–remitting course, with periodic episodes of neurologic symptomatology that do not follow a predictable pattern. In order to maintain a stable clinical course, it is felt to be important to control the number and severity of relapses, as disability, at least in part, is a cumulative effect of damage from multiple lesions within the brain and spinal cord. Historically, MS has not been considered curable, because the immune system could not be adequately normalized over the course of a lifetime. Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H; Campath^®, Genzyme, MA, USA) has recently been investigated in a Phase II clinical trial in the treatment of relapsing–remitting MS. The results observed in the study are very encouraging and multiple insights have been made into the nature of autoimmunity in general based on the clinical response to this monoclonal antibody. Enrollment in two pivotal Phase III clinical trials of alemtuzumab in MS is now complete.

Keywords::

• alemtuzumab
• autoimmune
• monoclonal antibody
• multiple sclerosis
• relapse
• remission

Financial & competing interests disclosure

In the interest of full disclosure, Edward Fox served as an Investigator on the CAMMS223 study for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in RRMS patients, as well as the principal investigator on an independently sponsored trial and received financial support from Genzyme to conduct these studies. Genzyme has provided funding for the CAMMS223 study for alemtuzumab in multiple sclerosis. Edward Fox has received compensation in the past for serving on advisory board/speakers bureau, for their research studies, and/or has also received honoraria on behalf of the following companies: Genzyme Corporation, Bayer, Biogen Idec, EMD-Serono, Opexa, Pfizer, Sanofi-aventis and Teva Neuroscience. The author has 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.

Genzyme provided writing support for this review article, in addition to reviewing the manuscript for accuracy.