Laquinimod is an oral drug with a marked neuroprotective effect for pathogenetic treatment of multiple sclerosis (review)

New oral therapies of MS cause great attention. This review includes data on the II and III phase clinical studies of laquinimod (LAQ) - a new oral therapy for MS with immunoregulatory, anti inflammatory and neuroprotective action. LAQ has no immunosupressive effects and has a very good safety and tolerability profile. Data of phase III studies including 2437 MS patients confirmed positive effect of LAQ on relapse rate and disability progression. These clinical results were supported by the MRI data, showing also a significant slowing of the brain atrophy. Russian neurological clinics actively participated in all LAQ clinical trials: 241 MS patients from 11 centers from Russia took part in the phase II trials. The data in this subgroup confirm all changes, registered in the whole group of patients.