MSF 155 Mavenclad
This is an oral medication in tablet form.
About this Medication
• Brand Name: Mavenclad®
• Chemical Name: Cladribine
• Usage in MS: Disease-Modifying Agent
• Generic Available: No
March 29, 2019
UPDATED 4/2/19 with additional details and FAQs

SUMMARY
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved oral cladribine (brand named Mavenclad®- EMD Serono) for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of MS, including relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary progressive MS, based on clinical trials showing it could decrease the number of relapses and slow the accumulation of physical disability caused by MS, compared to placebo. Because of its safety profile, Mavenclad is generally recommended in people with MS who have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, another MS therapy.
• Mavenclad is a compound that targets certain types of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that drive the immune attack in MS. It temporarily reduces the number of both T and B lymphocytes without continuous suppression of the immune system.
• Mavenclad has a boxed warning due to an increased risk of cancers and risk of fetal (unborn baby) harm.
• Potential safety issues identified by the FDA include decrease in white blood cells, and increased risk of infections and liver injury. The most common adverse reactions reported during clinical trials included upper respiratory tract infections, headache, and low white blood counts.
• Mavenclad is taken by mouth in two treatment courses, twelve months apart.
“This is an important breakthrough for people who do not respond to alternatives that have been approved to treat relapsing-remitting or active secondary progressive MS,” said Kathy Costello, MS, ANP-BC, MSCN, Associate Vice President of Healthcare Access at the National MS Society. “We are grateful that there is an additional option for people affected by these forms of MS.”

Description
Mavenclad® is a compound that targets certain types of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that drive the immune attack in MS. It temporarily reduces the number of both T and B lymphocytes without continuous suppression of the immune system.

Mavenclad® is approved by the FDA for adults with relapsing forms of MS, including relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary progressive MS.
Support
MS LifeLines®
(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
www.mslifelines.com/
Financial Assistance Program
MS LifeLines®
(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
www.mavenclad.com

Aaron boster has a good video about it on YouTube. I think he was involved in the clinical trials 10 years ago before fda said no to its approval

Something new comes out every few month's it seems, but only time will tell if it does what they hope for. Good luck! have a great and pain free week!

To answer your original question re side effects

Injectable cladribine suppresses the body's ability to make new lymphocytes, natural killer cells and neutrophils (called myelosuppression); data from HCL studies showed that about 70% of people taking the drug had fewer white blood cells and about 30% developed infections and some of those progressed to septic shock; about 40% of people taking the drug had fewer red blood cells and became severely anemic; and about 10% of people had too few platelets.[7]

At the dosage used to treat HCL in two clinical trials, 16% of people had rashes and 22% had nausea, the nausea generally did not lead to vomiting.[7]

In comparison, in MS, cladribine is associated with a 6% rate of severe lymphocyte suppression (lymphopenia) (levels lower than 50% of normal). Other common side effects include headache (75%), sore throat (56%), common cold-like illness (42%) and nausea (39%)[11

Source:wiki

PS maybe the dosages are lower in ms patients than in hcl patients...not sure

I’m with you Martha