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Experimental oral drug 'targets multiple sclerosis attacks'

16/04/2008

An experimental oral drug could reduce the number of attacks people with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer, according to new research.

The study is said to be significant as all of the current treatments for MS must be injected.

Researchers at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan say the drug FTY720 (Fingolimod) could cut the number of relapses people with MS have.

They studied 281 people with relapsing MS; two-thirds took FTY720 and the remaining number took a placebo (dummy drug).

After six months those taking FTY720 had more than 50 per cent fewer relapses, or attacks, than those who took the placebo.

At that point the participants were offered the chance to take part in an extension of the study where all would receive the drug.

A total of 173 people have finished three years of the study, during which two-thirds remained free of relapses.

The researchers say the inflammatory activity associated with MS, as assessed by MRI scans, remained low, with 89 per cent of patients free of disease activity and 75 per cent of patients free of new or newly enlarged lesions.

"All of the current treatments for MS must be injected, so having a pill you can swallow with a glass of water would be a welcome improvement for many people," said study author Dr Giancarlo Comi.

"The first line treatments for MS - beta interferon and glatiramer acetate - reduce the relapse rate by only about 30 per cent so this is a significant development for people with MS."

The findings were presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Chicago.