Use of Fingolimod in the Management of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Experience from Latin America

Once-daily fingolimod 0.5 mg (FTY720; Gilenya(A (R)), Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator that is approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS); currently, this includes approval in 13 Latin American countries. However, despite a well-characterized efficacy and safety profile in a large clinical development program, thus far there has been limited representation of patients from across the Latin American region. Differences in MS disease characteristics have been reported for the Latin American population compared with Caucasians, which may be additional to recent improvements in MS diagnosis. Furthermore, healthcare provision and regional socioeconomic factors exist that are unique to Latin America compared with other regions. Therefore, to optimize MS treatment pathways and improve patient clinical outcomes, it is important to investigate the efficacy and safety profile of fingolimod using ethnically relevant data. Here, we review key data from Hispanic patients enrolled in the fingolimod clinical trial program, summarize recent findings from the FIRST LATAM study, and appraise fingolimod data from real-world patient populations. Funding: Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.