Recommendations for essential medicines for multiple sclerosis in low-resource settings

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that, when untreated, can lead to significant disability in young adults. Despite the increase in the number of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), many people living with MS in low-resource settings do not have access to treatment.

The primary aim was to develop recommendations on the minimum essential DMTs for MS that should be available in low-resource settings.

The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation established an independent, international panel including healthcare professionals and people with MS. This panel, in collaboration with the Cochrane MS Group and McMaster GRADE Centre, reviewed evidence for use of MS DMTs following standardized GRADE protocols including consideration of balance of benefits and harms; certainty of evidence; resources required and cost-effectiveness and values, equity, feasibility and availability in low-resource settings.

For active and/or worsening forms of relapsing MS, the panel recommends use of ocrelizumab, cladribine, fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, interferon beta and glatiramer acetate. For active and/or worsening forms of progressive MS, the panel recommends use of rituximab, ocrelizumab, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod and interferon beta.

Recommendations for the minimum essential DMTs for MS in low-resource settings were developed based on robust consideration of evidence and relevant context.