Personalized medicine, one of the challenges in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

-Innovations in the treatment of Ms include: a drug orally which acts as neuroprotective, and research in regenerative therapy, as well as a therapy that improves the walking in these patients

– during the meeting ‘ Camino de Santiago ’ an update of existing therapies has becometherapeutic innovations, epidemiology and current lines of research

– this event, which celebrated its fifth year, was characterized by the numerous and active participation of neurologists and specialists in EM

Pamplona, February 2013.- for the fifth consecutive year, nearly a hundred experts in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) neurologists gathered to perform a refreshon the treatment and approach to a disease which affects, to a greater extent, young people, and that is potentially crippling, representing the second leading cause of disability in young adults after traffic accidents.

The V meeting of Multiple Sclerosis ‘ Camino de Santiago ’, which took place this year in Pamplona, you had a debate, and eminently educational function by means of which different objectives are pursued. In the words of one of its coordinators, Dr. Javier Olascoaga, Donostia-San Sebastian University Hospital neurologist, in addition to reporting current theories about the role of various factors in the pathogenesis of the disease, we will inform you of the State of current research in the area of neuroprotection and the neuroregeneration, as well as on the future possibilities in the treatment of Ms ”.

– Continued-, also will discuss about different aspects related to clinical practice, such as the role of magnetic resonance imaging, the usefulness of the current scaling algorithms therapeutic, balance benefit of current drugs and the new context presented to us at the onset of oral drugs. Also addressed the issue of the involvement of gait in patients with MS and their potential for improvement thanks to fampridine ”

treatment of mobility

La EM frequently leads to disability, and although it can occur at any age, has a higher incidence in people 30/40 years, coinciding with the most productive stage of life of a person in all aspects (personalsocial and economic)

, in fact, involvement of mobility is the most important symptom for patients since the onset of the disease and, specifically, the alteration of the March is especially relevant to them, to affect their independence and autonomy in the activities of everyday life ”presents Dr. Jesús Martin, a neurologist at the University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza’s. Thus, this degree of involvement of the March is directly related to increased requirements of care by the usual caregiver, more attention and use of health care resources, job loss and economic impact on the family ”, adds.

In this sense, extended-release fampridine is the first and only treatment prescribed to improve walking in adults with Ms. To date, more than 11,000 patients in Europe are being treated with this drug. Fampridine acts in a way relevant on one of symptoms arising from disease more prevalent and important for patients and therefore implies an improvement opportunity for these. To improve the efficiency of this treatment, it is key to identify patients likely to answer, that is, approximately 40%, as they extract various studies ”, says Dr. Martin.

A new scenario: the oral treatments

The introduction of oral drugs in the treatment of Ms is a reality and, in the opinion of another of the expert participants in the Conference, Dr. Marina Bujanda, the Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra neurologist, represent an advantage for a type of patients values and/or requires an important component of independence ”.

Specifically, BG-12, – treatment developed by Biogen Idec, investigational-, has shown an efficacy and favourable safety profile by reducing the relapse rate, the annualized rate of outbreaks, as well as the progression of disability in people who suffer from sender-recurrent Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) ”, explains Dr. Bujanda.

In this respect, Dr. Marina Bujanda adds, addition to BG-12 has a very positive safety profile, is a molecule that acts through a mechanism of action, innovative, different from that has been used until now to treat Ms ”.

On the other hand, to have new molecules to be added to our therapeutic armamentarium allows us to further customize the treatments, so that each patient receives the most appropriate drug ”, concludes.

Early administration is the key

During the day also addressed the current experience with other treatments that are already available to patients. This is the case of Tysabri ® (natalizumab), an intravenous monoclonal antibody.

Is the most effective drug that is currently on the market, both in relation to the decrease of the rate of outbreaks and progression of disability and their tolerability and safety in patients with RRMS, in line with the indications approved in Datasheet ”, says Dr. Marina Bujanda.

, – Adds – the administration of Tysabri ® in an earlier phase of RRMS could be more effective to achieve a complete remission of the disease activity ”.

Currently, a clinical study is being conducted to learn about its efficacy in another subtype of EM, the Multiple Sclerosis secondary progressive (SPMS).

Camino de Santiago v

The meeting of EM ‘ Camino de Santiago ’ has been held since five years ago. For Dr. Jose Maria Prieto, neurologist at the hospital complex in Santiago de Compostela, and one of the coordinators of the day, the assessment of previous editions of the ‘ pilgrims ’ cannot be more positive. The active participation of the attendees, something rare in this type of meeting is remarkable. In this sense, I am sure that the Fifth Edition will follow the same line, since we have nearly a hundred registered ”.

On the other hand, – adds Dr. Prieto-, although the initial idea of this event was to bring together, mainly neurologists of the hospitals in the North of Spain (hence its name ‘ Camino de Santiago ’), is noteworthy to point out that the number of participants has grown over time, joining colleagues from other parts of our country ”.

About Biogen Idec

Through a science of art and medicine, Biogen Idec discovers, develops and provides innovative therapies for the treatment of hemophilia, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases to patients around the world. Founded in 1978, Biogen Idec is independent of the world oldest biotechnology company. Patients worldwide benefit from multiple sclerosis therapies.