---------------------------------------------------------------
 详细处方信息以本药内容附件PDF文件（200942704165719.pdf）的“原文Priscribing Information”为准
---------------------------------------------------------------

1. Introduction
Cladribine (brand name Leustat) is currently an anti cancer agent that is
administered by intravenous infusion in the treatment of leukaemia. An oral
version of cladribine with a different dosing pattern is now being studied as a
potential treatment for relapsing/remitting MS.
Cladribine is not licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis but is currently
in clinical trials. It is being studied against placebo for its effectiveness as a
single drug therapy in relapsing/remitting MS. It is also being studied to
assess its safety in combination with beta interferon (as an add-on therapy)
compared with beta interferon alone in adults who continue to show signs of
active disease whilst on beta interferon therapy.
Results of a two year phase III study comparing two doses of cladribine and
placebo indicated that cladribine significantly reduces relapse rates in people
with relapsing/remitting MS1. Based on these positive results, the
manufacturers, Merck Serono, hope to submit the drug for licensing later this
year. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) intends
to appraise cladribine through its Single Technology Appraisal (STA) process
and has already drawn up a draft scope for the appraisal2.

2. How cladribine works
The autoimmune attack that is seen in MS results in the destruction of myelin,
the substance covering and protecting nerves in the central nervous system.
As with other chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of MS, cladribine is
used to kill off certain immune cells (lymphocytes) that prompt the
autoimmune destruction of myelin. By reducing the number of destructive
immune cells in circulation, it is thought it may slow down or stop this
autoimmune attack.

---------------------------------------------------------------
 详细处方信息以本药内容附件PDF文件（200942704165719.pdf）的“原文Priscribing Information”为准
---------------------------------------------------------------

20090427更新