summary: The authors of this article report the results of a 96-week clinical trial of a short-course oral tablet therapy with cladribine in people with relapsing-remitting MS. People who received cladribine tablets had a significantly lower rate of relapses, a higher relapse-free rate, and a lower risk of disability progression than the people who received the placebo. Furthermore, treatment with cladribine reduced MRI measures of disease activity. Since some adverse events related to cladribine treatment, such as decreased immune cell count and infection by herpes zoster, were observed, the benefits of this treatment need to be weighed against the risks.

authors: Giovannoni G, Comi G, Cook S, Rammohan K, Rieckmann P, Sørensen PS, Vermersch P, Chang P, Hamlett A, Musch B, Greenberg SJ; the CLARITY Study Group.

source: Engl J Med. 2010 Jan 20

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