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Multiple sclerosis

Oral laquinimod for MS—bringing the brain into focus

Currently approved multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments mainly target the peripheral immune system, thereby reducing relapse rates and MRI markers of inflammation. A recent phase III trial indicates that laquinimod, a new orally active immunomodulator, has a CNS-intrinsic mode of action that is independent of effects on the peripheral immune response.

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Figure 1: Effects of laquinimod in patients with multiple sclerosis in the phase III ALLEGRO trial.

References

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Correspondence to Wolfgang Brück.

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Competing interests

W. Brück receives research support from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Biogen Idec, Genzyme and Novartis. He is a member of the scientific advisory boards of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Biogen Idec, Novartis and Genzyme/Sanofi, and serves on speaker's bureaus for Bayer Vital, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Genzyme/Sanofi and Novartis. T. Vollmer has acted as a consultant for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Biogen Idec, Xenoport, Krog & Partners, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Acorda, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Hoffman-LaRoche. He has received research support from Janssen-Sergeant Pharmaceuticals, Medimmune, Vaccinex, ONO, Teva Neuroscience, Genzyme, Biogen Idec, Avinir, Acorda and Novartis.

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Brück, W., Vollmer, T. Oral laquinimod for MS—bringing the brain into focus. Nat Rev Neurol 9, 664–665 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2013.234

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