A to Z of MS Oral drugs for MS

Until 2011, all of the disease modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis were injected or, in the case of natalizumab (Tysabri), given by a monthly infusion. In 2011, fingolimod (Gilenya) was launched and several new oral treatments are being developed for relapsing remitting MS.

Fingolimod

Fingolimod is a drug that acts on certain types of white blood cells (lymphocytes) and stops them circulating in the blood.

Results from a one year phase III study (called TRANSFORMS) comparing fingolimod with interferon beta 1a (Avonex), and from a two-year study (FREEDOMS) were published in January 2010. Both showed that fingolimod had a greater impact on reducing relapse rates in people with relapsing remitting MS. FREEDOMS also indicated that fingolimod reduced disability progression.

Fingolimod was licensed in 2011 for people with certain types of relpasing remitting MS and is currently being appraised by NICE, the body that decides if treatments should be made available on the NHS in England.

Read, order or download the Fingolimod factsheet

Other oral disease modifying drugs in development

• BG-12
• Laquinimod
• Teriflunomide (Aubagio)

Cladribine

Cladribine was another potential oral disease modifying drugs, but following concerns from regulators that the benefits of the drug did not outweigh the risks, the manufacturer announced that they were discontinuing their applications for licences.

Other drugs are at earlier stages of development. For more information see the Drugs in development pages.

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