FTY720:Aiming to be first once-a-day pill

Preclinical Studies Suggest FTY720 Mechanisms In Multiple Sclerosis May Include Direct Activity In The Brain
Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis News
Article Date: 05 May 2007 - 6:00 PDT


New preclinical data, presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting in Boston, reflect the expanding understanding of FTY720's (fingolimod) mechanism of action in multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting direct beneficial effects in the brain. The data suggest that FTY720 may have the potential to reduce neurodegeneration and enhance repair of the central nervous system (CNS) by modulating S1P receptors expressed on brain cells. Separately, new clinical data presented from the six-month Phase II study found that the proportion of patients with clinical depression was significantly lower in the FTY720 groups compared to placebo.

In the third study, conducted in an established animal model of MS [experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats], researchers found that FTY720 directly administered in the rat brain significantly suppressed the severity of clinical EAE, suggesting additional mechanisms of action independent of lymphocyte depletion. In imaging studies, enhanced myelination and axonal protection associated with the clinical effects were confirmed in animals receiving oral FTY720. (Schubart et al)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=69885