However it does tell us that the mature B cells are not the problem and may likewise suggest that the plasma cells in the periphery (those in the brain may be a different story) may not be the problem.
Merck have Evobrutinib in trial and have enrolled 250 pwMS across 55 sites and are fully-recruited. PwMS have been placed into three doses of drug, placebo or dimethyl fumarate for 24 weeks.
Sanofi have entered the fray as they have just bought PRM226 a BTK inhibitor that is designed to enter the brain and the spinal cord. If this can get rid of oligoclonal bands, will the progressive MS be dealt with?
AbbVie has Imbruvica (ibrutinib).
There are many more companies with BTK inhibitors, which they are developing for B cell cancers.
The question for the BTK inhibitors is do you need to deplete the B cells or block the memory B cell function? I suspect that you will need to deplete the B cells so the non-depleters may not work. We will see.
How convinced are you about B cells?
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