Back to Journals » Biologics: Targets and Therapy » Volume 7

Optimizing therapeutics in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis: a review of drug efficacy, dosing, and mechanisms of action

Authors Damal K, Stoker E, Foley J

Received 15 August 2013

Accepted for publication 14 September 2013

Published 27 November 2013 Volume 2013:7 Pages 247—258

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/BTT.S53007

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Kavitha Damal, Emily Stoker, John F Foley

Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Salt Lake City, UT, USA


Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disorder that affects nearly 2 million adults, mostly in their prime of youth. An environmental trigger, such as a viral infection, is hypothesized to initiate the abnormal behavior of host immune cells: to attack and damage the myelin sheath surrounding the neurons of the central nervous system. While several other pathways and disease triggers are still being investigated, it is nonetheless clear that MS is a heterogeneous disease with multifactorial etiologies that works independently or synergistically to initiate the aberrant immune responses to myelin. Although there are still no definitive markers to diagnose the disease or to cure the disease per se, research on management of MS has improved many fold over the past decade. New disease-modifying therapeutics are poised to decrease immune inflammatory responses and consequently decelerate the progression of MS disease activity, reduce the exacerbations of MS symptoms, and stabilize the physical and mental status of individuals. In this review, we describe the mechanism of action, optimal dosing, drug administration, safety, and efficacy of the disease-modifying therapeutics that are currently approved for MS therapy. We also briefly touch upon the new drugs currently under investigation, and discuss the future of MS therapeutics.


Keywords: multiple sclerosis, immunomodulation, interferons, glatiramer acetate, monoclonal antibodies, dimethyl fumarate

Creative Commons License © 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.