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PROGRESS ON MS THERAPIES
BY MEGAN WEIGEL, CNP, ARNP-C, MSCN
In 1993, Betaseron was released to market as the first disease- modifying therapy for MS. With the approval of oral dimethyl fumarate (brand name Tefidera™) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)in March, 2013, we now have 10 disease modifying therapies to treat relapsing forms of MS— and more on the horizon.
Tecfidera is the third oral therapy approved to treat MS. A related compound, called Fumaderm (dimethyl fumarate and fumericacid esters), has been used for decades in Europe to treat psoriasis. Tecfidera is a new and different formulation of dimethyl fumarate developed by Biogen Idec specifically to treat MS. Although its exact mechanism of action is not known, it is thought to inhibit immune
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cells active in MS and may even protect against damage to the brain and spinal cord. Two large phase III studies (the DEFINE and CONFIRM trials) found that Tecfidera significantly reduced relapses and disease activity as detected by MRI. The most common side effects were flushing of the skin and gastrointestinal upset. Before starting treatment, the FDA recommends a recent (within six months) blood cell count, repeated annually thereafter.
The MS Emerging Therapies Collaborative, which includes the Society, provides downloadable information sheets at
www.mscoalition. org/emergeningtherapies to facilitate communication between doctors and people with MS about newly approved treatments such as Tecfidera.
Here are potential therapies to keep an eye on as we move forward into 2013 and beyond. Alemtuzumab, a monoclonal antibody that depletes
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