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Diroximel fumarate in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

    Elise Jonasson‡

    Department of Neurology, Hospital South West Jutland, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark

    ‡All authors contributed equally

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    &
    Tobias Sejbaek‡

    *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +457 9183 105;

    E-mail Address: tobias.sejbaek@rsyd.dk

    Department of Neurology, Hospital South West Jutland, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark

    BRIDGE, Brain Research - Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark

    MS Alliance of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark

    ‡All authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2020-0025

    Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is a new emerging therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis. The levels of its active metabolite, monomethyl fumarate, are bioequivalent to the levels generated from dimethyl fumarate (DMF) treatment. The efficacy and safety profiles of DRF are expected to be similar to the well-established profiles of DMF. The metabolism of DRF leads to lower concentration of methanol in the small intestine than with DMF and thus reduced severity and frequency of gastrointestinal adverse events. DRF seems a promising alternative to DMF and other first-line therapies for multiple sclerosis. The current review is based on the two existing Phase III trials of DRF: the interim analysis of the EVOLVE-MS-1 trial and the completed EVOLVE-MS-2 trial.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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