[Multiple sclerosis: treatment and prevention of relapses and progression in multiple sclerosis]

The benefit of interferon beta-1a and 1b treatment on relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) is now firmly established. IFN beta-1b, the only disease modifying drug approved in Japan, was comparably effective in OS-MS and C-MS in a Japanese treatment trial. Although the effect of Copaxone is less conclusive, superior safety profiles make this treatment an important alternative choice. Mitoxantrone has been approved by FDA for rapidly progressing patients. The usage should be restricted for two or three years to avoid cardiac side effects. Antegren, which is an anti-cell adhesion molecule monoclonal antibody and has been shown to be very effective for relapsing MS patients, now awaits approval by FDA. Many combination therapies are currently under systematic survey and hoped to provide superior efficacy.