open access

Vol 57, No 3 (2023)
Review Article
Submitted: 2022-08-30
Accepted: 2023-01-27
Published online: 2023-03-31
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Targeting CD20 in multiple sclerosis — review of current treatment strategies

Natalia Chmielewska1, Janusz Szyndler2
·
Pubmed: 36999373
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2023;57(3):235-242.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

open access

Vol 57, No 3 (2023)
Review articles
Submitted: 2022-08-30
Accepted: 2023-01-27
Published online: 2023-03-31

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that mostly manifests as irreversible disability. The aetiopathogenesis of MS is still unclear, although it was initially thought to be primarily mediated by T-cells. Research into the immune concepts of MS pathophysiology in recent years has led to a shift in the understanding of its origin i.e. from a T-cell-mediated to a B-cell-mediated molecular background. Thus, the use of B-cell-selective therapies, such as anti- -CD20 antibody therapy, as expanded therapeutic options for MS is now strongly supported. This review provides an up-to-date discussion on the use of anti-CD20 targeted therapy in MS treatment. We present a rationale for its use and summarise the results of the main clinical trials showing the efficacy and safety of rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, and ublituximab. Future directions that show selectivity to a broader population of lymphocytes, such as the use of anti-CD19 targeted antibodies, as well as the concept of extended interval dosing (EID) of anti-CD20 drugs, are also discussed in this review

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that mostly manifests as irreversible disability. The aetiopathogenesis of MS is still unclear, although it was initially thought to be primarily mediated by T-cells. Research into the immune concepts of MS pathophysiology in recent years has led to a shift in the understanding of its origin i.e. from a T-cell-mediated to a B-cell-mediated molecular background. Thus, the use of B-cell-selective therapies, such as anti- -CD20 antibody therapy, as expanded therapeutic options for MS is now strongly supported. This review provides an up-to-date discussion on the use of anti-CD20 targeted therapy in MS treatment. We present a rationale for its use and summarise the results of the main clinical trials showing the efficacy and safety of rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, and ublituximab. Future directions that show selectivity to a broader population of lymphocytes, such as the use of anti-CD19 targeted antibodies, as well as the concept of extended interval dosing (EID) of anti-CD20 drugs, are also discussed in this review

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Keywords

multiple sclerosis, targeting CD20, ofatumumab, ocrelizumab, ublituximab, rituximab, extended interval dosing

About this article
Title

Targeting CD20 in multiple sclerosis — review of current treatment strategies

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 57, No 3 (2023)

Article type

Review Article

Pages

235-242

Published online

2023-03-31

Page views

2053

Article views/downloads

1076

DOI

10.5603/PJNNS.a2023.0022

Pubmed

36999373

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2023;57(3):235-242.

Keywords

multiple sclerosis
targeting CD20
ofatumumab
ocrelizumab
ublituximab
rituximab
extended interval dosing

Authors

Natalia Chmielewska
Janusz Szyndler

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