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A promising oral drug for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) is turning heads. A pooled analysis of two phase 3 trials found that fenebrutinib — a BTK inhibitor — more than halved relapse rates compared to teriflunomide, while also reducing MRI lesions, slowing brain volume loss, and lowering a key nerve damage biomarker. The results were presented at MSToronto 2026.
A new oral therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) is showing impressive results. Fenebrutinib, a highly selective BTK inhibitor that can penetrate the central nervous system, outperformed the established treatment teriflunomide across multiple key measures in a pooled analysis of the phase 3 FENhance 1 and 2 trials, presented at MSToronto 2026.
The analysis included 1,497 adults with RMS who were randomized to either fenebrutinib 200 mg twice daily or teriflunomide 14 mg once daily for at least 96 weeks. Fenebrutinib demonstrated broad disease control — not just fewer relapses, but also less MRI-visible inflammation, slower brain shrinkage, and lower levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a blood marker of nerve damage.
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Why it matters: These results suggest fenebrutinib could offer a meaningful step forward in MS care, addressing not just relapses but also the underlying neurological damage that drives long-term disability. Safety data are still pending.
