Approved Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) is an injectable medication approved for adults with relapsing forms of MS. Given by injections into the muscle, which can be self-administered at home, it is designed to delay disability progression, prevent relapses, and reduce brain lesions.

Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) is an approved injectable medication for adults with relapsing forms of MS. Administered by subcutaneous injections that can be given by patients or their caregivers, it is designed to prevent relapses, reduce MRI disease activity, and delay disability progression.

Extavia (interferon beta-1b) is a subcutaneous therapy intended to reduce the number of exacerbations and prevent the development of new brain lesions in patients with relapsing forms of MS.

Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is approved to treat relapsing forms of MS. It is a “pegylated” form of interferon beta-1a that allows for less frequent dosing.  It is an injectable formulation, administered under the skin once every two weeks.

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) is an under-the-skin injection therapy indicated for relapsing forms of MS. It is designed to reduce the frequency of disease exacerbations, delay the accumulation of physical disability, and prevent the development of new lesions.

Gilenya (fingolimod) is an oral disease-modifying therapy approved for people ages 10 and older with relapsing forms of MS. Taken once daily as capsules, it is used to reduce disease relapses, prevent the development of new lesions, and potentially delay the progression of disability.

Mayzent (siponimod) is an approved oral treatment for relapsing forms of MS. Taken as a once daily tablet, it is designed to reduce the frequency of relapses, prevent the development of new lesions, and slow the progression of disability.

Ponvory (ponesimod) is an oral therapy approved for adults with relapsing forms of MS. Taken once daily as tablets, it is used to reduce relapse rates and prevent the development of new lesions.

Zeposia (ozanimod) is a once-daily oral treatment for adults with relapsing forms of MS. It helps reduce relapse rates and the development of new brain lesions.

Bafiertam (monomethyl fumarate) is an approved oral therapy for relapsing forms of MS. Taken twice-daily as oral capsules, it is used to reduce relapses, prevent the development of new lesions, and delay disability progression

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is an oral therapy approved for relapsing forms of MS. Taken twice daily as capsules, it has been shown to reduce relapse rates, slow the development of brain lesions, and delay disability progression.

Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) is an oral treatment approved for people with relapsing forms of MS. Taken as twice-daily capsules, it is used to prevent relapses, reduce MRI disease activity, and delay disability progression.

Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy) is an antibody-based therapy approved to treat adults with relapsing forms of MS. Administered via hourlong intravenous infusions every six months, it is used to reduce relapses and brain lesions, and to slow disability progression.

Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is an anti-CD20 antibody approved to treat adults with relapsing forms of MS. Given via monthly subcutaneous injections, which can be self-administered at home, it is used to prevent relapses, reduce MRI disease activity, and slow the progression of disability.

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is an infusion therapy approved to treat adults with relapsing forms of MS and primary progressive MS. Administered via an intravenous infusion, the treatment is used to reduce the frequency of relapses, lower the number of lesions, and slow disability progression.

Ocrevus Zunovo (ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase-ocsq) is an approved injectable antibody-based therapy for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of MS and primary progressive MS. The treatment is expected to reduce relapses and brain lesions, as well as slow disability progression.

Aubagio (teriflunomide) is an active metabolite of the compound leflunomide and is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor. It is an oral formulation that has immunomodulatory properties, which can mitigate the rate and extent of damage caused to nerve fibers in neurodegenerative conditions like MS.

Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) is a disease-modifying therapy approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS, including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS, and active secondary progressive MS. Generic forms are also available.

Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) is an approved antibody-based therapy for relapsing forms of MS used to reduce relapses and prevent disability progression. Because Lemtrada can increase the risk of severe complications, it is generally recommended in the U.S. for patients who have failed to respond to at least two other MS treatments.

Mavenclad (cladribine) is a disease-modifying and short-course oral tablet treatment for people with active and relapsing forms of MS. The treatment is typically recommended for patients who failed to respond to, or were unable to tolerate, other MS therapies.

Mitoxantrone hydrochloride is an infusion medication used to slow disability progression and decrease the risk of relapses in people with relapsing forms of MS. It also is approved for nonactive SPMS. Originally sold under the brand name Novantrone, the therapy is available only as a generic medication.

Tysabri (natalizumab) is an antibody-based therapy approved to treat adults with relapsing forms of MS. It is available in the U.S. only through a restricted distribution program called TOUCH Prescribing Program because of its risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid approved to manage acute relapses in people with MS. Available in both oral and injectable forms, it’s specifically used as a short-term treatment to ease symptoms and speed recovery during a relapse.

Methylprednisolone is a powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant medication that is approved for managing acute relapses in people with MS. It is used as a short-term treatment to reduce the duration and severity of MS relapses, and can be taken either orally or injected into the bloodstream.

Prednisone is an oral glucocorticoid that is approved to manage acute relapses in people with MS. It is usually used after a short course of intravenous corticosteroids to reduce the severity of symptoms during an MS relapse and speed recovery.

Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is an injectable medication used to manage acute relapses in adults with MS. The treatment can be administered via either subcutaneous or intramuscular injections and is usually considered for patients who have had inadequate responses, or cannot tolerate, corticosteroids.

Cortrophin Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is an injectable therapy approved to treat acute relapses. Cortrophin Gel’s mechanism of action is not fully known, but it is thought to work mainly by increasing cortisol levels, thus reducing the inflammatory autoimmune attack that drives MS exacerbations.

Ampyra (dalfampridine) is an oral medication used to improve walking ability in people with MS. The treatment’s mechanism of action is not completely understood, but the medication is known to block the activity of potassium channels, thus improving the conduction of electrical signals in damaged neurons.

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) is an injectable treatment approved to ease spasticity in MS. The therapy also is approved for neurogenic detrusor overactivity in MS, when nerve damage causes the muscle around the bladder to be overactive. Although Botox can ease these symptoms of MS, it does not alter the progression of the disease.

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) has been approved to treat upper and lower limb spasticity in adults (a common symptom of MS) and is currently being studied as a treatment for overactive bladder in MS patients. It is administered as an injection directly into the muscle.

The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator, or PoNS, is an approved noninvasive medical device used in combination with physical rehabilitation to reduce MS-associated walking problems. The electrical signals delivered through the device are thought to create a natural flow of stimuli from the tongue to the brain, promoting neuroplasticity.