New Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a disease with mild symptoms or it can be debilitating, leaving you completely helpless. The course is unpredictable, and MS symptoms may come and go without warning or apparent reason. However, advances in the medical field have resulted in new hope for people diagnosed with this often devastating neurological disease.

Study Looks at Interferon and Alemtuzumab for MS Treatment
A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine (October 23, 2008) showed promising results for research done at the University of Cambridge School of Medicine. Participants had to be in early stages (three years or less) of relapsing-remitting MS to be included in the study. They were randomly assigned to receive either interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif) or alemtuzumab (Campath, Campath-1H, MabCampath), a treatment for certain types of leukemia and lymphoma. 

Alemtuzumab has been studied in treatment of patients with secondary progressive MS since 1991. It has shown effectiveness in suppressing relapses but not the progression of disability for this unpredictable neurological disease. The Cambridge study sought to answer the question of whether or not alemtuzumab therapy could halt MS in its early stages.

Mixed Results for MS Benefits
Unfortunately, the study had to be discontinued early. A bleeding disorder developed in three patients, one of whom died. Interferon beta-1a therapy continued for the entire study. Although the same bleeding disorder has been seen with interferon beta-1a, it has been approved for treatment of MS. Alemtuzumab is still undergoing research for this indication.

In spite of this, conclusions of the study revealed that alemtuzumab treatment for early relapsing-remitting MS was more effective than interferon beta-1a. Measures have been employed to identify patients at risk for side-effects. Ongoing studies are now being done. Hopefully, it won't be long before we know whether this apparently effective drug is beneficial enough to risk side-effects, especially in young adults who have been diagnosed with MS but have little disability.

For further information, refer to: "Alemtuzumab vs. Interferon Beta-1a in Early Multiple Sclerosis," Coles, A PhD FRCP; Compston, D A FMedSci PhD; Selmaj, K MD PhD; Lake, S ScD; Moran, S MD MSCE; Margolin, D MD PhD; Norris, K BSc; Tandon, P PhD, New England Journal of Medicine, October 23, 2008, Volume 359, Number 17.

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For more information on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and symptoms of MS, see What is MS?

Studies show a new treatment for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may be on the horizon.  To read more about the drug shown to reduce the progression of MS, see New MS Drug Shows Promising Results in Early Tests.