Mark Freedman, MSc, MD, CSPQ, FAAN, FRCPC, University of Ottawa & Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada, outlines the importance of identifying patients with benign multiple sclerosis (MS). High efficacy therapies in MS come with significant side effects, so preventing exposure to these drugs where aggressive treatment is not needed would be beneficial. Identifying patients likely to have a benign disease course is challenging, and there is no defined set of characteristics that can confidently predict benign disease. Clinical and fluid-based biomarkers, such as neurofilament light (nfL), are under investigation to help identify where on the MS spectrum patients lie. This interview took place during the ACTRIMS Forum 2021.
Disclosures
Research or educational grants: Sanofi-Genzyme Canada, Hoffman-La Roche, EMD Inc. (Canada) Honoraria or consultation fees: Actelion (Janssen/J&J), Alexion, BiogenIdec, Celgene (BMS), EMD Inc., Sanofi-Genzyme, Hoffman La-Roche, Merck Serono, Novartis, Teva Canada Innovation Member of a company advisory board, board of directors or other similar group: Actelion (Janssen/J&J), Alexion, Atara Biotherapeutics, BayerHealthcare, BiogenIdec, Celgene (BMS), Clene Nanomedicine, GRI Bio, Hoffman La-Roche, Magenta Therapeutics, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva Canada Innovation Company sponsored speaker’s bureau: Sanofi-Genzyme, EMD Serono
