Expanding MS Treatment & Shared Decision-Making

The treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has undergone a ⁣significant transformation in recent years, ‍driven by the development of a wider array of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), according ‍to Jacqueline Bainbridge, PharmD, BSPharm, ‍FCCP, MSCS, FAES. In an interview,Bainbridge detailed how⁢ clinicians now possess tools to address both ‍relapsing-remitting and progressive forms of the disease,with a more ‍refined ‍understanding of ⁣varying disease presentations,including active and non-active stages.

This evolution represents a shift away from earlier treatments – primarily self-injectable therapies – toward a more ⁢diverse landscape⁢ encompassing⁢ oral medications and infusion-based options.This expanded toolkit provides patients with greater treatment flexibility and empowers them to participate more actively in shared decision-making with their healthcare providers.

Bainbridge emphasized that these advancements are fundamentally changing the long-term prognosis for individuals with MS, moving the focus from anticipating disability to fostering a more hopeful outlook. Pharmacists, she added, are playing an increasingly vital role in MS research, contributing to clinical ⁢trials through leadership, support, data interpretation, and the application of findings to improve patient ⁢care.