Neurológia pre prax 4/2015

Alemtuzumab in multiple sclerosis treatment

Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada®) is a humanized monoclonal antibody indicated for the treatment of highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).Alemtuzumab causes cytolysis of circulating B and T lymphocytes by binding to their surface marker, CD52. The newly achieved repopulation of lymphocytes subsequently leads to a rebalancing of the immune system. In clinical trials with active comparator (IFN-beta-1a -Rebif 44) demonstrated alemtuzumab superior efficacy when evaluating the annualized relapse rate, progression of disability, the number of new or enlarging lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and increasing brain atrophy. Data from clinical trial extensions confirm the long-term effect of alemtuzumab. Its advantage is the low frequency of administration - 5 infusions over 5 days at the start of treatment, and additional 3 infusions per year with the expected efficacy of the treatment scheme for the next 5 years.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis, alemtuzumab, monoclonal antibody, efficacy, safety profile.