Current and emerging therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis: focus on cladribine.

ABSTRACT: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, immune-mediated, demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system with a heterogeneous clinical presentation and pathology in which activated lymphocytes play an important role in mediating tissue damage. Until recently, all first line therapies for MS were injectable. Several oral medications have been studied for preventative treatment of MS. Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) is a purine nucleoside analog that has been used for the treatment of several hematologic neoplasms, with a unique lymphcytotoxic mechanism of action. Cladribine has been investigated as treatment of MS for more than 15 years. A recent placebo-controlled, double-blind study of cladribine, CLARITY, showed decreased relapse rates, risk of disability progression

SUBMITTER: Schreiner TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3619698 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature