IASO Biopharma Receives FDA IND Clearance for Idecabtagene Autoleucel (Equecabtagene Autoleucel) in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS), leading to demyelination and neuronal damage. It is one of the most common causes of non-traumatic disability in young adults (aged 18 to 40).^[1]According to the Frost & Sullivan report, there were approximately 3.07 million patients with multiple sclerosis globally in 2023, including about 400,000 in the United States. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis shows significant gender differences, with an overall female-to-male ratio of 3:1.^[2]。

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by localized lymphocytic infiltration of the central nervous system, leading to demyelination and axonal damage, which result in neurological syndromes and physical disability.^[3]The clinical manifestations of multiple sclerosis depend on the location of damage in the central nervous system. Common symptoms include sensory and visual disturbances, motor and coordination disorders, as well as spasticity, fatigue, pain, and cognitive deficits.^[4]Approximately 85% to 90% of patients with multiple sclerosis experience a relapsing-remitting course, characterized by acute exacerbations followed by periods of remission. However, as the disease progresses and recovery becomes incomplete, about 50% of patients eventually develop secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which is marked by the gradual and irreversible accumulation of neurological dysfunction.^[5]。