Multiple Sclerosis: Promising New Drug

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease of the body’s central nervous system. It causes the immune system to attack the myelin around the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord. The current leading treatment, although there is no cure, is the drug interferon beta-1a.

Recently, a clinical trial of the drug alemtuzumab has led researchers to believe it may be a better treatment for MS. The clinical trial compared alemtuzumab to interferon beta 1-a and found that patients taking alemtuzumab were 74% less likely to experience relapses. Alemtuzumab has also been found to reduce the number of attacks and help the patient recover lost functions. The drug may also promote repair of the damaged brain tissue.

Alemtuzumab is indicated for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This monoclonal antibody works by binding to the CD52 receptor on some cells of the immune system. After binding to the target, the drug triggers the destruction of those cells by the immune system.

As with any drug, there have been some adverse effects. The trial was temporarily suspended in September 2005 due to the fatality of a test patient. A current focus of research is to determine why patients are developing ITP. ITP is a disorder in which a low platelet count in the blood causes excess bleeding.

Although there have been setbacks, this drug seems to have promising results in the research of multiple sclerosis. Researchers at the University of Cambridge seem very hopeful that alemtuzumab will eventually be able to stop the advance of early-stage MS in millions of people worldwide.

REFERENCES:

1. Leukemia drug gives hopes to MS sufferers

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/23/ms.treatment/index.html?iref=newssearch

2. Genzyme And Bayer HealthCare Announce Detailed Interim Two-Year Alemtuzumab In Multiple Sclerosis Data Presented At AAN

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/69669.php