Neurology®
The most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed Neurology journal
Quick Search
Advanced Search
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow CME: Take the course for this article:
Volume 72, Number 11, March 17, 2009
Right arrow Data Supplement
Right arrow Correspondence:
Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Correspondence are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wiendl, H.
Right arrow Articles by Hohlfeld, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wiendl, H.
Right arrow Articles by Hohlfeld, R.
Related Collections
Right arrow All Immunology
Right arrow Autoimmune diseases
Right arrow All Clinical Neurology
Right arrow All Clinical trials
Right arrow Multiple sclerosis
NEUROLOGY 2009;72:1008-1015
© 2009 American Academy of Neurology


Views and Reviews

Multiple sclerosis therapeutics

Unexpected outcomes clouding undisputed successes Heinz Wiendl, MD and Reinhard Hohlfeld, MD

From the Department of Neurology (H.W.), Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany; and the Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology (R.H.), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Germany.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Prof. Heinz Wiendl, Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Josef-Schneider Str. 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany heinz.wiendl{at}klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de

In this essay, we draw attention to some recent downsides and surprises of multiple sclerosis (MS) therapeutics. These include experiences with recent head-to-head trials of interferon-beta and glatiramer acetate, dose escalation trials, frustrating efforts with progressive MS trials, failures of smart concepts and designer therapies, and harsh lessons from newly observed adverse reactions.

Abbreviations: DMT = disease-modifying therapy; EAE = experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale; GA = glatiramer acetate; IFNβ = interferon beta; ITP = idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; IVIg = IV immunoglobulin; MS = multiple sclerosis; PML = progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; PPMS = primary progressive multiple sclerosis; RCT = randomized controlled trial; RRMS = relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis; SC = subcutaneously; TNF{alpha} = tumor necrosis factor {alpha}.


Disclosure: H.W. received honoraria for lecturing and travel expenses for attending meetings and received financial research support from Bayer, Biogen Idec/Elan, Sanofi-Aventis, Schering, Serono, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. H.W. has served or serves as consultant for Serono, Medac, Sanofi-Aventis/TEVA, Biogen Idec, and Schering. R.H. received personal compensation from Bayer, Schering, Serono, Biogen-Idec, Teva/Sanofi-Aventis, and Novartis.

Supplemental data at www.neurology.org

Received March 20, 2008. Accepted in final form December 16, 2008.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Mult SclerHome page
R. Hohlfeld
Review: 'Gimme five': future challenges in multiple sclerosis. ECTRIMS Lecture 2009
Multiple Sclerosis, January 1, 2010; 16(1): 3 - 14.
[Abstract] [PDF]