Future MS treatments

MS patients and caregivers have always been on the lookout for better and improved therapies for this disease. With a host of treatment options in the pipeline, there has never been so much activity in the new MS area since the return of Tysabri couple of years back. As per current announcements and estimates, the first wave of MS therapies is likely to hit pharmacies in late 2012. Actually, the wave already started with the launch of Gilenya last year. Key therapies which are likely to become available in the next couple of years include, teriflunomide, BG-12, Laquinimod and Lemtrada. Out of these BG-12 and laquinomd comes from existing MS companies, Biogen Idec and Teva respectively. Sanofi also has key players in this field with candidates  teriflunomide and Lemtrada (from Genzyme for cancer treatment).

Both BG-12 and teriflunomide have come out with positive data from first ph III studies. Further data is expected from both these compounds at the ECTRIMS meeting in October this year.