Emerging therapies for MS

Immune modulators, such as interferon beta (IFNB) and glatiramer acetate (GA), have focused on T cells as the primary therapeutic target. In the past few year several novel therapeutic strategies have emerged that will be reviewed here. These include treatments that modify the immune balance in general, others that inhibit more specifically various key players of the immune response such as antibody-dependent, and antibody-independent B cell responses in MS, but also some that inhibit migration of inflammatory cells to the central nervous system (CNS). At this time, there are several phase III trials in relapsing-remitting MS with promising agents, including intravenous agents administered once or twice a year (alemtuzumab, rituximab) and oral agents (FTY720, fumaric acid, laquinomod). Finally, new therapeutic approaches are now also addressing neuroprotection and CNS repair.