Multiple sclerosis: Current treatment and future therapeutic directions

Multiple Sclerosis is a common disorder (0.1% prevalence in the US) that affects young adults in the prime of life. Enormous efforts have been made toward understanding the nature of the MS process. These efforts are now leading to many treatments that target each step of the immunologic cascade. Some of the future therapies have very specific actions, and involve antibodies against cells, adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors. This targeted approach to therapy marks the beginning of a new era in the treatment of MS.