Ozanimod for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis

Neurodegener Dis Manag. 2021 Jun;11(3):207-220. doi: 10.2217/nmt-2021-0005. Epub 2021 May 20.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease that causes chronic neurological disability in young adults. Modulation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors, a group of receptors that, among other things, regulate egression of lymphocytes from lymph nodes, has proven to be effective in treating relapsing MS. Fingolimod, the first oral S1P receptor modulator, has demonstrated potent efficacy and tolerability, but can cause undesirable side effects due to its interaction with a wide range of S1P receptor subtypes. This review will focus on ozanimod, a more selective S1P receptor modulator, which has recently received approval for relapsing MS. We summarize ozanimod's mechanism of action, and efficacy and safety from clinical trials that demonstrate its utility as another treatment option for relapsing MS.

Keywords: disease-modifying treatment; multiple sclerosis; ozanimod; relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis; sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors.

Plain language summary

Lay abstract There are increasing treatment options available for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Ozanimod (ZEPOSIA) is a treatment that has recently received approval in many regions of the world for relapsing-remitting MS. Ozanimod acts on specific sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors, which are found in many tissues in the body, but also have known beneficial effects in MS. A robust clinical development program has demonstrated ozanimod’s efficacy in reducing clinical and radiological measures of MS disease activity, making it a useful addition to the ever-increasing treatment armamentarium for relapsing MS.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Indans / therapeutic use*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy*
  • Oxadiazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Sphingosine 1 Phosphate Receptor Modulators / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Indans
  • Oxadiazoles
  • Sphingosine 1 Phosphate Receptor Modulators
  • ozanimod