Upcoming Oral Agents
The investigational oral agent furthest along in the developmental pipeline is laquinimod, a quinolone-3-carboxamide small molecule for which two phase III clinical trials have been completed. The European Medicines Agency is reviewing the drug for marketing approval. Teva, the drug’s manufacturer, has not yet applied to the FDA for approval in the United States.
Several second-generation sphingosine-1-phosphate agonists are in development. They are believed to act more selectively, and thus to entail a lower risk of compromising the immune system, than fingolimod. These agents include siponimod, ponesimod, and ONO-4641.
—Bruce Jancin
IMNG Medical News