News Release 20-Aug-2019
Ruhr-University Bochum
Medications currently used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) can merely reduce relapses during the initial relapsing-remitting phase. Many patients, however, develop progressive MS at a later stage, with disability becoming progressively worse. This type cannot be sufficiently treated at yet. Possible causes why an effective therapy for progressive MS is still lacking have been compiled by an international research team in a review article in the journal Nature Reviews Drug Discovery from 9 August 2019.
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"A bottom line of our analysis is that the reason why it is so difficult to treat progressive MS is the fact that progression is caused by various mechanisms," says Simon Faissner. "In order to provide more efficient treatment, we will probably need precise therapy approaches targeting various pathomechanisms." According to the authors, another problem is the fact that the full range of underlying mechanisms is not represented in any of the existing animal models.
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There are also financial aspects that impede the development of new drugs. There is evidence that drugs approved for another indication may also prove effective against multiple sclerosis. "But as patents for such medication have expired, pharmaceutical companies can't further develop them," explains Simon Faissner. "The implementation of studies to test the efficacy of those drugs for MS often fails due to a lack of funds."
An example of why we need government funding for medical research.
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Today, new drugs for the progressive types of MS are available, such as Ocrelizumab and Siponimod. However, the therapy effects are as yet limited.
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