Satralizumab for Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
The rare auto-immune disease, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD/Devic Disease), is characterized by either optic neuritis or myelitis. It is a chronic disorder of the brain and spinal cord dominated by inflammation of the optic nerve and inflammation of the spinal cord.
NMOSD is seen only when the innate defense mechanisms against the disease or invading organisms for unknown reasons, suddenly begin to attack healthy tissue. It was known that; the disease occurs in all races of individuals. Rough estimate is that, NMOSD is seen approximately in 1-10 per 100,000 individuals.
Any age people do affect by NMOSD and is observed particularly in middle-aged women who are seropositive for AQP4-IgG. Children are more commonly evolved with brain symptoms at onset and seem to have a higher frequency of monophasic presentation than adults.
The treatment of this rare disease is associated with utilization of the drugs like Eculizumab, Inebilizumab. Very recently, the US FDA has accorded Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation for the drug developed by Genentech Inc, Satralizumab for the treatment of NMOSD in adult patients with the same AQP4 antibody. The drug acts through targeting the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, believed to play a key role in the inflammation that occurs in people with NMOSD.