Title:The Development of the Combination Drug Leukovir® Tablets for the
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review
Volume: 24
Issue: 16
Author(s): Elena N. Kalinichenko*Svetlana V. Babitskaya
Affiliation:
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, BY-220141, 5/2 Academician V.F. Kuprevich Street, Minsk, Belarus
Keywords:
multiple sclerosis, Leukovir®, enteric-coated tablets, cladribine, ribavirin, DMTs, clinical trial.
Abstract: The review is devoted to the development and study of the drug Leukovir® (cladribine+
ribavirin) and its use in the treatment of relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive
forms of multiple sclerosis, a chronic neurodegenerative disease aiming the risk reduction of relapse
and progression of a disability. In clinical trials Leukovir® has proved to be efficient by up to
56 weeks for the treatment of relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive forms of multiple
sclerosis. The drug is registered in the Republic of Belarus. The efficacy, safety and tolerability
profile of the drug Leukovir® suggests that it is well suited for disease-modifying therapy of multiple
sclerosis. Patients require four 35-day courses of treatment, each consisting of seven days of
treatment followed by a break of 28 days. The use of Leukovir® has contributed to the suppression
of inflammatory process activity according to MRI data and stabilization of the clinical condition.
It has reduced the number of relapses in patients with relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive
forms of multiple sclerosis.