Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.
High-efficacy therapies have transformed multiple sclerosis (MS) care, but managing long-term disease progression remains a major challenge. Emerging biomarkers like NfL and GFAP, along with BTK inhibitors that can penetrate the central nervous system, are offering new hope. Experts say the next frontier is not just slowing progression — but potentially reversing neurological damage.
The MS treatment landscape has undergone a dramatic shift over the past two to three decades. High-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), particularly B-cell-depleting agents, have given clinicians powerful tools to control inflammation and reduce relapses. But a stubborn gap remains: even patients with stable MRIs often continue to worsen, highlighting the limits of current monitoring and the urgent need for therapies targeting progressive MS.
On the diagnostic side, blood-based biomarkers are stepping up. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) — now widely available — can flag inflammatory disease activity over the prior three months, offering a practical alternative when MRI access is limited. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is being investigated as a real-time marker of disease progression, potentially filling a critical monitoring gap.
Looking ahead, BTK inhibitors are generating significant buzz. These oral agents modulate the immune system without depleting cells and — crucially — can cross the blood-brain barrier to reach CNS-resident immune cells like microglia and B cells that peripheral therapies can't touch.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: For the millions living with MS, the promise of therapies that go beyond inflammation control — and potentially repair neurological damage — represents a meaningful shift in what's possible.
