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Published on: December 26, 2015
Teriflunomide for oral therapy in multiple sclerosis
Athina Papadopoulou1, Ludwig Kappos, Till Sprenger
1Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland.
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
|December 14, 2012
Summary
Teriflunomide offers an oral treatment option for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Clinical trials show it effectively reduces relapse rates with good safety, comparable to existing injectable therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Teriflunomide is the active metabolite of an antirheumatic drug.
- It is an emerging oral therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of teriflunomide in relapsing MS.
- To assess its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
Main Methods:
- Phase II and III clinical trials were conducted in patients with relapsing MS.
- Efficacy was measured by relapse rate reduction.
- Safety and tolerability were also assessed.
Main Results:
- Teriflunomide demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability.
- Clinical efficacy showed a significant reduction in relapse rate.
- Its efficacy is comparable to available injectable immunomodulatory agents.
Conclusions:
- Teriflunomide is a potentially valuable oral treatment for relapsing MS.
- It offers an alternative for patients preferring oral administration.
- Further studies are ongoing to define its role in MS treatment algorithms.
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