STUDY: The changing fortunes of Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate)

Key points of this study:

• Dimethyl fumarate is thought to defend against oxidative stress-induced neuronal death and support myelin integrity.
• Dimethyl fumarate has shown to reduce annual relapse rates in relapsing remitting MS compared to glatiramer acetate.
• It may also have a positive effect on progression of disability and the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions.
• It is generally well tolerated, with flushing, gastro-intestinal upset, upper-respiratory tract infections and erythema/pruritis being the most common affects reported.
• Oral administration, good tolerability and likely safety in liver and renal disease patients may make this an attractive addition to existing MS therapies.