Op{ti pregledi/ General reviews NEW PERSPECTIVES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TREATMENT NOVE PERSPEKTIVE U LE^ENJU MULTIPLE SKLEROZE medicinska revija medical review

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system, traditionally considered to be an autoimmune, demyelinating, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease. Based on this understanding, the initial therapeutic strategies were directed at immune modulation and inflammation control. Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) require long-term, regular injection or monthly parenteral infusions, which may be uncomfortable and inconvenient for the patient. Thus, there is an important need for new therapeutic strategies, especially those that may offer greater patient compliance in order to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Researchers are currently investigating new drugs for the treatment of MS. Five oral therapies are in Phase III clinical trial development or have recently been approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): Cladribine and Fingolimod, Fumaric acid (BG-12), Teriflunomide (A77126 or HMR1726) and Laquinimod (ABR-215062). Preliminary results indicate that oral medications are as effective as, or possibly more effective than, current injection agents. Future research into MS should focus on a combination of therapies and on the development of drugs directed against the remitting and progressive phases of the disease. The aim is to prevent of demyelination and a reduction of axonal loss