Introduction
Tecfidera® is a drug that is mainly used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a nervous disease of the chronic inflammatory type. In the course of this disease, the myelin sheaths of the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS) are gradually destroyed.
Myelin sheaths are the layer of lipids (fat, or fat-like compounds) that spirally envelop the individual nerves of the CNS and thus significantly increase the speed of signal transmission. However, if one falls ill with multiple sclerosis, the body attacks the myelin sheaths through inflammation. The myelin sheaths are damaged more and more until paralysis and pain occur in relapses.
Such symptoms are caused by the malfunctioning signal transmission in the CNS. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, one can only try to give back a little quality of life to the patient through intensive therapy and to slow down the course of the disease with various drugs. Tecfidera® is one such drug. The chemical substance behind the name Tecfidera® is the fumaric acid dimethyl ester, a chemical compound of fumaric acid and methanol, an alcohol. Among other things, fumaric acid dimethyl ester is said to have immunologically regulating effects as a drug.
Mode of action
The exact mechanism behind the effect of Tecfidera® is still unclear at this stage. It is suspected that Tecfidera®, or its active ingredient, fumaric acid dimethyl ester, has immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects. Immunomodulatory in this context means that the immune system is kept in check and thus the inflammatory “attacks” on the myelin sheath are reduced at least to a certain extent.
Antioxidative is the term used to describe substances that intercept free radicals in the body and thus prevent cell damage. Both properties are presumably promoted by an intracellular (inside the cell) signaling pathway. This signaling pathway normally causes the formation of proteins that are involved in anti-inflammatory and antioxidative reactions and protect cells from oxidative stress. Tecfidera® has a positive effect on the progression of multiple sclerosis by moderating the immune response and building cellular protective systems.
