Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that can result in severe morbidity and mortality. The past 15 years have seen a dramatic improvement in the available treatment options for MS patients. Before the 1990s, steroids administered during acute attacks were the only effective medications for the disease. Since then, seven drugs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in MS, and many trials investigating new treatments are in progress. The experimental agents range from vaccines to monoclonal antibodies to drugs with novel mechanisms of action. In addition, the importance of vitamin D and its interaction with the immune system has become increasingly apparent. This selective review of current clinical trials provides a concise summary of promising new MS therapies on the horizon.