Fingolimod for multiple sclerosis

We already introduced fingolimod in Pharmacorama.

The NEJM published the results of 2 clinical trials concerning the effects of fingolimod given by oral route to patients with multiple sclerosis. One of the trials shows that fingolimod, at 5 and 1,25 mg daily, was more effective than the placebo to reduce the frequency of relapses, the aggravation of the disease and the progression of the nervous lesions evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. The other trial shows that fingolimod was more effective than the interferon beta-1a given by intramuscular route once per week to reduce the frequency of relapses but there no was difference with regard to the disease progression

Among adverse effects of fingolimod announced in these two trials one can quote bradycardia, atrioventricular block, hypertension, rise in the hepatic enzymes, two fatalities by viral infection (herpes).