Latest MS news: Cladribine and Fingolimod

If you take a look at the latest MS news, you will most likely read, hear or watch a piece about the new oral drugs for Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Cladribine and Fingolimod.

I know that for me the idea of not having to deal anymore with needles – whether intramuscular or subcutaneous - could not come soon enough. I’m going to try and recap the most important and relevant facts that you need to know about the upcoming oral MS treatment.

• Both drugs (Cladribine and Fingolimod) are medications or substances that suppress, block or weaken the body’s immune response (Immunosuppressants)

• The news back in December 2009 was that Merck KGaA's oral drug for relapsing-remitting MS, Cladribine had not been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It was later discover that the problem was a clerical error in the application filed with the FDA and a new application was submitted in June 2010.

I’ll keep my eyes open for any MS news related to the approval process of Cladribine and post it on the MS news & blog section of this website.

• Back in January 2010, Novartis filed the application for its oral drug for relapsing-remitting MS, Fingolimod with the FDA. Fingolimod, now called Gilenya, was approved by the FDA the week of September, 20th. 2010.

A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE ORIGINS OF THIS DRUG:

Japanese researchers took a hint from Chinese medical tradition that found life-prolonging properties in an Asian fungus called Isaria sinclairii. This fungus is a kind of vegetable wasp, or, to translate literally the Chinese/Japanese term, “winter-insect-summer-plant.”

It turns out this friendly fungus produces a chemical that is potent at suppressing the immune system and later in the labs of Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical scientist modified that chemical into fingolimod

HOW SAFE ARE THESE ORAL DRUGS FOR MSers?

In a 96-week study, 80% of the patients taking cladribine stayed relapse-free, compared to 61% of the placebo group. You may read the original article from the New England Journal of Medicine by clicking right here: Oral Cladribine study trial results

In the case of the other oral drug for MS, in a 2-year study, between 70 and 75% of patients taking fingolimod stayed relapse-free, compared to 46% of the placebo group. You can read the original article from the New England Journal of Medicine by clicking right here: Oral fingolimod vs. Placebo published results

In a different study that lasted one-year, between 80 and 83% of the participants that took fingolimod stayed relapse-free, compared to 70% of the patients that took AVONEX

You can read the original article from the New England Journal of Medicine by clicking right here: Oral fingolimod vs. AVONEX published results

The results, so far, are promising. I am of the opinion that we will see fingolimod sooner, September 2010 perhaps, but I think we all can be pretty sure there would be more new oral drugs following so I‘ll continue with my present treatment,

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