Jan Hillert, MD, PhD, professor and senior physician in the department of clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, discusses whether the medical community has reached a consensus on using an escalation approach to treatment or starting with highly effective therapies in treating multiple sclerosis (MS).
Jan Hillert, MD, PhD, professor and senior physician in the department of clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, discusses whether the medical community has reached a consensus on using an escalation approach to treatment or starting with highly effective therapies in treating multiple sclerosis (MS).
Transcript
Is there a consensus on whether to use an escalation approach or to use highly effective treatments initially in treating MS?
No. There is no consensus on this. And there are some studies, some observational studies, indicating that there might be advantages with starting with today’s second-line treatments. We don’t know that for sure. There is no consensus.
But I would like to point out that the traditional way of escalation was never a thought-of regimen. It was not something that we just conceived, never something that happened logically with the introduction of less efficacious drugs early and then more efficacious drugs later. It just emerged. It was never a hypothesis that that should be the way.
I’m looking forward to seeing more studies, observational studies from the MS registries, proving if there is an advantage in hitting hard at the early stage.
But I would like to emphasize also that even the first-generation drugs, if you start early enough, have a tremendous effect on the outcome 10 years later. We’ve seen that in several studies. The timing of the first generation of drugs is really important by 10 years down the road. That, to me, is probably something that is overlooked: Even the first-generation drugs are really quite impressive in the long term.
Beyond Insulin: The Impact of Next-Generation Diabetes Technology
April 17th 2024Experts explain how new diabetes technologies like continuous glucose monitors are transforming care beyond intensive insulin therapy, offering personalized insights and improving outcomes for patients of all treatment levels.
Read More
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
Listen
Dr Al Benson on Reimbursement for Supportive Care When Treating Patients With Cancer
March 22nd 2024Al Benson, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, medical oncologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and associate director of the Robert E. Tillery Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed findings from a national survey assessing barriers to comprehensive cancer care delivery.
Read More
Distinguishing Biomarkers Identified in MS Outcomes
March 19th 2024Results from this cohort study found that levels of glial fibrillary acid protein, cerebral spinal fluid, and neurofilament heavy chain are distinguishable biomarkers that are associated with disease outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Read More