Repair strategies for multiple sclerosis: challenges, achievements and perspectives

Abstract

Purpose of review: Despite major progress in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, to date, accumulation of irreversible clinical disability is not sufficiently prevented with immunotherapies. In this context, repair strategies aimed at reducing axonal damage are becoming a very active field of preclinical and clinical research.

Recent findings: Improved understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of myelin repair, together with the emergence of new therapeutic candidates are paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies in MS. In parallel, there is a very active development of imaging methods to assess lesions ongoing remyelination that are crucially needed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy.

Summary: The current development of a very dynamic and multidisciplinary research on remyelination should accelerate the development of myelin repair strategies in MS, to prevent disability progression.