Most MS drugs are immunomodulatory As of my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, there were over 20 drugs approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
The reason why most of the drugs approved for MS are immunomodulatory is that MS is considered an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers in the central nervous system. This results in inflammation and damage to the nerve cells, which can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including problems with muscle control, vision, and cognition.
Immunomodulatory drugs are designed to modify the activity of the immune system, with the goal of reducing the inflammation and damage caused by the immune system in people with MS. These drugs can target different components of the immune system, such as T cells, B cells, and cytokines, and can work by various mechanisms, such as reducing the number of immune cells or blocking their activity.
While immunomodulatory drugs are the mainstay of MS treatment, there are also other drugs that are approved for MS that work by different mechanisms, such as reducing oxidative stress, protecting nerve cells, or promoting remyelination. These drugs are typically used in combination with immunomodulatory drugs or in cases where immunomodulatory drugs are not effective or well-tolerated.