Riluzole

Riluzole

• How does riluzole work?
  Riluzole works by stopping a chemical called glutamate interacting with nerve cells. We know that a build up of glutamate can damage nerve fibres, and researchers believe that blocking glutamate could help to protect nerves in MS.
• How is riluzole taken?
  Tablet
• Latest research

  MS-SMART

  MS-SMART is a phase 2 trial that will test the potential of three different drugs - riluzole, amiloride and fluoxetine– in 440 people with secondary progressive MS. The trial is due to finish in 2018.

• Earlier research

  In 2007 we brought together MS researchers and clinicians to help us develop and run trials for progressive MS. Through this Clinical Trials Network (CTN) we funded £500,000 of early research to help us develop the MS-SMART trial.

  Through the work of the CTN we also selected a number of drugs that had the potential to be neuroprotective. And riluzole scored particularly highly.

• Side effects
  We don't yet know the side effects of riluzole in MS, this will be tested as part of the MS-SMART trial.
• How does riluzole comnpare with current therapies?
  Right now there are no effective treatments for secondary progressive MS.
• When will riluzole be available?
  The MS-SMART trial is due to finish in 2018. If the results are positive riluzole would then need to be tested in larger phase 3 trials before it could be licensed for MS.