Promising results for Novartis and Merck KGaA oral MS drug trials represent "shifting tide"

22 January 2010

Positive results from clinical trials of two different oral therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), fingolimod from Swiss drug major Novartis and cladribine from Germany's Merck KGaA, reported on-line in the New England Journal of Medicine yesterday, could mean an important and welcome shift for the 2.5 million or so patients worldwide away from injections.

Doug Brown, biomedical research manager at the UK's MS Society, said: "This is great news for people with MS and signifies a shifting tide in the treatment of the condition. Availability of oral therapies will give people greater choice and being able to take a tablet instead of unpleasant injections will come as welcome relief. The evidence is now there and we will be working with the relevant authorities to make sure those who will benefit can get access."

Fingolimod filed with FDA and EMEA; cladribine rejected by FDA

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