Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Orally administered immunomodulatory compound developed as a disease modifying treatment.
A new type of immumodulatory agent for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS),
led to a 40% reduction in lesions, according to results of a multicentre, placebo-controlled
phase IIb trial.
Laquinimod affects the levels of certain cytokines (substances released by immune
cells) and reduces the passage of immune cells into the brain and spinal cord.
Laquinimod is a novel once-daily, orally administered immunomodulatory compound developed
as a disease modifying treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).
A recent Phase II study of oral laquinimod concluded that it is well tolerated and
effective in suppressing development of active MRI lesions in relapsing MS. Treatment
over six months resulted in a 30% decrease in MRI disease activity. those with disease
activity at the start of the study showed a decrease of more than 40%.
A second, 9-month phase II study, using a higher dose has been recently completed,
showing a statistically significant effect on decreasing the number of active lesions
in the brain, as well as a clear trend of reducing the number of clinical relapses.
Phase III clinical trials are in preparation
Source: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
Polman C et al. Treatment with laquinimod reduces development of active MRI lesions
in relapsing MS. Neurology 2005;64(6):987-991.
The Lancet - Comi G, et al "Effect of laquinimod on MRI-monitored disease activity
in aptients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIb study" Lancet 2008; 371: 2085-2092. (20/06/08)
