AAN 2014: Novartis' MS drug Gilenya slows brain volume loss

Data from Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX) has shown that more patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with Gilenya (fingolimod) achieved an average annual rate of brain volume loss within the range of those expected for healthy adults versus those taking placebo.

The data was presented at the 66th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting.

People with MS typically experience brain volume loss up to three to five times faster than those without the disease. The average brain volume loss in people without MS ranges from 0.2% to 0.4% per year, depending on age. MS patients typically lose brain volume at an approximate rate of 0.5% to 1.35% per year. Post hoc analyses presented at AAN showed that significantly more Gilenya treated patients had annual brain volume loss rates below 0.4% (within the range of people without MS), compared to placebo. This effect was consistent across different age groups.