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Humoral-Targeted Immunotherapies in Multiple Sclerosis

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Neurotherapeutics

Summary

The continuous improvements of our understanding of the pathophysiological changes that occur in multiple sclerosis (MS) have translated into many novel therapeutic agents at different stages of development. These agents target more specifically the innate or the adaptive immune response. We will review agents available or under development that target the humoral pathways of the adaptive immune response. As such, humoral targeted immunotherapies that are being developed for MS are discussed herein: rituximab, ocrelizumab, and ofatumumab show promise as B-cell depleting agents. Other agents, such as atacicept were suspended during development in MS due to increased inflammatory activity versus the placebo. Although most agents were tested in relapsing-remitting forms of MS, rituximab and ocrelizumab have both been studied in progressive MS, whereas ocrelizumab only is currently moving forward in primary progressive MS trials. We provide an overview of agents available and under development that target the humoral response and include their mechanisms of action, safety profiles, and results of clinical trials.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Lulu is a recipient of the Sylvia Lawry fellowship award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and fellowship training award from Biogen-Idec. Dr. Waubant is funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Institutes of Health, and the Nancy Davis Foundation, and is receiving support for ongoing trials from Roche, Sanofi Aventis, and Biogen Idec, and has also provided 3 educational lectures for Teva and Biogen Idec, along with being an ad hoc consultant for Actelion, Chugai, and Sanofi Aventis.

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  1. UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA

    Sabeen Lulu & Emmanuelle Waubant

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  1. Sabeen Lulu
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Correspondence to Sabeen Lulu.

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Lulu, S., Waubant, E. Humoral-Targeted Immunotherapies in Multiple Sclerosis. Neurotherapeutics 10, 34–43 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-012-0164-3

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