WCN 2021 | The story of laquinimod in multiple sclerosis

Giancarlo Comi, MD, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, gives an overview of the studies evaluating laquinimod, an orally administered immune-modulatory molecule, for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). In early studies, laquinimod showed a peculiar activity profile because even though the relapsed rate reduction was moderate, there was an effect on brain atrophy and disability progression. Prof. Comi explains that there was a possibility that a higher dose could show clear effects. The CONCERTO (NCT01707992) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of oral laquinimod 0.6 or 1.2 mg in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. The 1.2 mg arm had to be discontinued, while laquinimod 0.6 mg only demonstrated nominally significant effects on clinical relapsed and MRI outcomes. This interview took place during the XXV World Congress of Neurology.