Novartis' investigational oral therapy FTY720 (fingolimod) demonstrated sustained benefits in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) after three years of treatment, according to new clinical data presented today from an ongoing Phase 2 study extension.

Results showed that 73% of patients who began the study on FTY720 5 mg remained free from relapses after three years, and 68% of those who began the study on FTY720 1.25 mg remained relapse-free. The figures after two years of treatment were 77% and 75% respectively. On the basis of comparable efficacy and a better safety profile, all patients have been transferred to FTY720 1.25 mg in the study extension.

The 36-month data also showed an average annualized relapse rate of 0.20, equivalent to one relapse in five years, while 89% of patients were free of the active brain lesions characteristic of MS as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) three years after starting treatment.

This article was published in Drug Discovery & Development magazine: Vol. 11, No. 5, May, 2008, pp. 30.