MS Evolving Management - St Petersburg

There is an assumption at this meeting, amongst the key opinion leaders (KOLs) attending, that with the increasing complexity created by the release of the new wave of MS DMTs, patients will not be able to assimilate all the relevant information and be in a position to make treatment decisions for themselves. I disagree! Similarly, the debate yesterday about induction vs. escalation therapy was interesting in that the majority of neurologists favoured escalation therapy over induction therapy as it is supposedly “safer”. I am not sure we have enough long-term data on the new oral agents to make this claim. Interestingly, it was also stated that induction therapies (alemtuzumab, cladribine and anti-CD20) were the only therapies likely to offer the potential of a cure, as they do something fundamental to the immune system. If that is the case why can’t PwMS choose for themselves? 

Any comments?

Prof G