New immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis (MS): A comprehensive review

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Clinical immunology
• Neurology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults.
• MS involves autoimmune demyelination and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system (CNS).
• Current therapies effectively manage relapsing MS but fail to halt disability progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging immunotherapies for MS.
• To synthesize preclinical and clinical data on novel treatment strategies.
• To address the unmet need of halting disability progression in MS.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of preclinical studies.
• Analysis of clinical trial data for emerging MS immunotherapies.
• Synthesis of evidence on targeting CNS inflammation and immune cells.

Main Results:

• Emerging immunotherapies show potential for halting MS disability progression.
• Compartmentalized CNS inflammation, including microglial activation, is implicated in MS pathogenesis.
• Novel strategies aim to target both peripheral and CNS-resident immune cells.

Conclusions:

• Novel immunotherapies offer hope for managing MS disability progression.
• Clinical success depends on balancing treatment efficacy with safety profiles.
• Further research is needed, particularly for progressive MS phenotypes with limited options.