Singapore: According to an international multiple sclerosis (MS) registry and a US health claims database, Novartis' Gilenya (fingolimod) has showed reducing risks of multiple sclerosis relapses as compared to standard therapies.

Relapses can make life unpredictable for patients with MS and they can potentially significantly advance an individual's level of disability. MS patients' clinical outcomes are regularly assessed and switching between disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), to reduce the rate or likelihood of a relapse, is a frequent treatment strategy.

"Controlling relapses and preventing disability are key treatment goals for patients with MS." said Mr David Epstein, division head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

He also added, "It is encouraging to see that the benefits of Gilenya, which is the only disease modifying treatment proven in clinical studies to have a superior relapse reduction as compared to an active comparator, are now confirmed in the real-world setting."

The 'MSBase study', a global, longitudinal, observational registry for MS involving 60 centers in 26 countries and US administrative claims data from the 'IMS PharMetrics Plus Database' were interrogated for information on the impact on MS relapses of switching to either oral Gilenya or to one of the standard injectable therapies - an interferon or glatiramer acetate.