They launch the first treatment that stops multiple sclerosis

The Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has announced the launch of ocrelizumab, the first monoclonal antibody that slows the progression of multiple sclerosis in early and advanced stages, stopping the attack of myelin – a Insulating layer that forms around the nerves found in the brain and spinal cord – and in doing so, stops the neuronal degeneration that causes paralysis or involuntary movements, visual disturbances, memory loss and cognitive gains.

Daniel Ciriano, director of Roche for Latin America, explained at a meeting in Colombia that "when the immune system's attack capacity that destroys myelin is inhibited, at this point moment the aggression to the nervous system and the progression of the disease cease ". This unique treatment, which changes the course of the disease, allows myelin (the insulator that covers the neurons) to regenerate and recover.

"By recovering myelin, they recover their neurological functions. What is being done, right now, are studies where the disease is controlled and where we begin to see improvements. It is necessary to give him time to see how this process of myelin recovery reverses some of the damage, but the non-occurrence of relapses implies that patients will remain neurologically better over time. " he said. added the specialist, "the evolution of the disease is cut off.This had not been done before in medicine."

THE GREAT QUESTIONNAIRE

Ciriano mentioned that Multiple sclerosis is a big question for medical science, "a disease that we do not know how the shoots, but when they are activated, some cells of the immune system attack the myelin, that is, ie do not recognize it, can fight the thyroid or the joints. "

Therefore, he says," the peculiarity of this drug is immune system cells that correlate with others that are, finally, those who are consumed, so to speak, of myelin. "

He added that" when these cells that cover the myelin layers do not attack, the process of damage to the disease has been shut down for a long time and this insulating sheath pe can even be recovered (…) The aggression disappears, there is time for recovery and, in many cases, myelin is restored

He specified that clinical studies performed with magnetic resonances have shown that with the innovative method images of lesions of the progressive activity of sclerosis disappear images.

"This new treatment is the first in the recurrent forms of remission disease, which acts on B cells, which play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease." Until now, all available therapies have been performed on T lymphocytes and this opens up new opportunities in the approach of the said disease.As for multiple sclerosis patients, the approval means providing a drug that controls the progression of the Disease and disability, "he said.

Jorge Tanaka, director of access and corporate affairs at Roche's grave and irreversible, but the fact is that they can already improve the quality of life and it is thought that they can prevent them from dying 10 or 15 years ago.