Title:A Systematic Review of Drugs in Late-Stage Development for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Focus on Oral Synthetic Drugs
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
Author(s): Malihe Safavi, Shekoufeh Nikfar and Mohammad Abdollahi
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Clinical trials, laquinimod, masitinib, multiple sclerosis, siponimod, systematic review.
Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous, chronic, debilitating immune-mediated disease
of the central nervous system (CNS). There are four types of MS according to their relapsing or progressive pattern that
include relapsing–remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS), primary progressive (PPMS), and progressive
relapsing (PRMS). There is no definite cure for MS, thus medications typically focus on slowing the progression of the
disease, managing symptoms and improving the quality of life. There is no specific medication for the management of
PPMS and thus these patients are often neglected. New medicines in this phase of the disease are needed. On the other
hand injectable immunomodulatory medicines, which dominated the MS market for over the past two decades, raise the
issues of adherence and tolerance while oral therapies do offer a step forward in convenience.
This systematic review article discusses the emerging synthetic small molecule that administered orally for MS treatment.
We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar to summaries the present knowledge on mechanism of action,
and completed and current clinical trial of laquinimod, masitinib and siponimod. Data were collected from 1985 to
January 2015.
The development of effective medicines for MS is critically dependent upon understanding the biological basis of this
complex multifactorial disease. The current pharmacotherapeuetic options for its treatment are mainly immunomodulators
which were developed on the basis that MS is an autoimmune disease. The new synthetic small molecule agents such as
laquinimod, masitinib and siponimod with different mechanism of actions can be administered orally rather than by
injection.
