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ACTRIMS 2022 | The unmet needs of treating patients with progressive MS

Jason Plemel, PhD, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, comments on the development of treatment strategies for individuals with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The availability of effective therapeutic options for progressive MS remains a major unmet need. Therefore, the repurposing of medications that actively target relapsing-remitting MS has often been used. This has shown to be of use in individuals demonstrating disease activity in progressive MS – however, in the absence of disease activity, medications are not yet clinically available. Considering the primary mode of action in treating relapsing-remitting MS is predominantly on the adaptive arm of the immune response, this does not reflect the needs of a progressive MS brain. Treating progressive MS may be best achieved by directly targeting compartmentalized inflammation. Dr Plemel concludes that strategies that could induce re-myelination are an exciting approach, and would certainly change the treatment paradigm in progressive MS. This interview took place at the ACTRIMS Forum 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida.