2 Oral MS Drugs in Phase III Study
Two Oral Multiple Sclerosis Drugs Look Promising
Can MS patients see an end to injections? Possibly, with two new oral multiple sclerosis drugs that are currently in Phase III studies, the last step before FDA approval
People with multiple sclerosis await the day when an effective oral medication is available. Currently, all disease-modifying therapy is injectable, whether it is administered once a week, once a day, or somewhere in between. An infusion, Tysabri, is also available, but again it involves being injected with a needle. Thankfully such injectable medicine exists (less than 20 years ago, no modifying therapies were available.) Still, oral medication would alter multiple sclerosis patients' daily routines, outlooks, and prospects. Two such medications, cladribine and fingolimod, are entering Phase III trials as I write.
Cladribine
Oral cladribine, a new product being tested by the drug company Serono, is in the midst of a two-year, placebo-controlled trial. This study, called CLARITY, can be found in such states as Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Oregon. Certain states are still recruiting for this study. Apparently, oral cladribine has been tagged as a "Fast Track Product", which means its future FDA review (at the end of Phase III) will be expedited, giving multiple sclerosis patients a speedy new oral option for treatment.
Fingolimod
Oral fingolimod, another potential MS medication, also looks promising, and is also entering Phase III, which is the last step before FDA approval or rejection in the United States. Conversely, oral fingolimod seems to have some side-effects that need to be worked out. Presently, these include nausea, inflammation of the nasal passages, breathing difficulties, and/or reduction in heart rate. The drug company responsible, Novartis, is working on this. Said study, named FREEDOMS, is also still recruiting. For more information about these studies, please visit Nat'l MS Society Research.
***For more articles and discussions about MS, please visit the MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Suite.
***For related information, check out the Neurological ARTICLE INDEX and Blog.
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