Three late-stage pipeline drugs in progressive multiple sclerosis offer hope for patients

Of the 20 investigational drugs currently being developed for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), three are now in Phase III development, offering hope to the patients, who have very few treatment options in comparison to patients affected by relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), says data and analytics company GlobalData,

According to research by  GlobalData’s pharma team, the three drugs in Phase III development are French drugmaker Sanofi’s (Euronext: SAN) tolebrutinib (anticipated launch in 2025 in the USA and 2026 in the top-five European countries; 5EU), AB Science’s (Euronext - FR0010557264 - AB) masitinib (anticipated launch in 2027 in the USA and in the 5EU) and Roche’s (ROG: SIX) fenebrutinib (anticipated launch in 2027 in the US and 2028 in the 5EU).

“Tolebrutinib and fenebrutinib are particularly exciting, as they offer a new targeted mechanism of action (MoA) for MS: these drugs inhibit Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) to selectively target B-cell activity. Masitinib also acts via a novel MoA for MS, but is less targeted, instead inhibiting multiple tyrosine kinases. Both of these strategies offer very different approaches from existing oral disease-modifying therapies. Any agents with novel MoAs and improved efficacy will be a welcome addition for patients diagnosed with progressive MS - particularly PPMS,” noted GlobalData’s neurology analyst Barbora Salcman.