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Cladribine hope for multiple sclerosis

Nature Reviews Immunology volume 9, page 387 (2009)Cite this article

Clinical trial results announced at the 61st annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology suggest that the immunosuppressant drug cladribine (Leustatin, Ortho Biotech; marketed for the treatment of leukaemia) could be a new therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis.

The Phase III CLARITY (CLAdRIbine Tablets in treating multiple sclerosis orallY) clinical trial conducted by Merck Serono involved 1,326 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis over 2 years who were given two or four treatment courses per year. Cladribine reduced the chance of a relapse by 55% compared with placebo, and those patients who received cladribine were 30% less likely to suffer worsening in their disability.

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  1. Kirsty Minton
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Minton, K. Cladribine hope for multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Immunol 9, 387 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri2579

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