Natalizumab is more effective than fingolimod in reducing relapses
French researchers compare oral and injectable drugs for relapsing-remitting MS
Last updated: 5th April 2016
The emergence of new disease modifying treatments in tablet form in comparison with the injectable drugs is a triumph for the MS field. With new options for treatment, however, choosing the best drug at a specific point during MS course is more difficult than before for both people with MS and neurologists.
In this study French researchers asked whether an oral therapy (fingolimod) is better than a potent injectable drug (natalizumab) for preventing new attacks or the appearance of new lesions on MRI.
The results show that natalizumab is more effective. The usage of natalizumab, however, should be balanced against rare, but serious adverse events (such as Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), brain inflammation resulting from the JC virus) that are not seen as frequently in fingolimod.
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