Siponimod is a selective modulator of specific types of the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor, commonly found on the surface of specific cells in the central nervous system responsible for causing damage that drives loss of function in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
Although increasingly effective therapies continue to be developed for relapsing-remitting MS, therapies that convincingly affect the progressive phase of MS have yet to be identified. A related Comment on this study notes that the effect of siponimod on the primary endpoint was small, and that there was no statistically significant effect on the key secondary clinical outcome of time to 3-month confirmed worsening of the timed 25-foot walk. The authors say that “confidence in the treatment benefit of siponimod in progressive MS will, in our opinion, require confirmation in a second trial.”
According to a PharmaTimes report, an application seeking permission to market siponimod for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in the US is due to be filed imminently. A European filing is on the cards for later in the year.