Alemtuzumab - A New Efficacy Benchmark in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis?
The disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) available for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been used effectively for nearly two decades. These treatments delay the neurorodegenerative process, but do not restore lost neurological function. New oral DMDs are becoming available that offer improved convenience over existing injectable DMDs. Recently, several monoclonal antibody treatments have been developed for MS; the furthest developed is alemtuzumab (Campath-1H). In a landmark phase II clinical trial (CAMMS223) on patients with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), short cycles of alemtuzumab given at the start, at 12 months and optionally at 24 months, demonstrated superior and sustained efficacy in terms of relapse rates and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings over the comparator compound, interferon beta-1a (IFNβ-1a), which was given subcutaneously and continuously. Most notably, the mean disability score for patients receiving alemtuzumab showed an unprecedented improvement, whereas for IFNβ-1a it deteriorated. Alemtuzumab in treating RRMS is the subject of two ongoing phase III trials, the results of which have the potential to change future treatments and prognoses for many patients.