Expanding Treatment Options and Shared Decision-Making in Multiple Sclerosis Care

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Jacqueline Bainbridge, PharmD, BSPharm, FCCP, MSCS, FAES, discusses how the treatment landscape for multiple sclerosis (MS) has evolved dramatically with the expansion of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Bainbridge explains that clinicians now have a broader armamentarium that spans relapsing-remitting and progressive forms of MS, with greater nuance around disease phenotypes, including active and non-active disease. She highlights the shift from first-generation self-injectable therapies to a diverse range of oral agents and infusion-based treatments, giving patients more flexibility and a stronger voice through shared decision-making. Bainbridge notes that these advances have transformed the long-term outlook for patients with MS, moving away from an expectation of disability toward a more optimistic future. She also emphasizes the critical role pharmacists play in MS clinical trials, from leading and supporting research to interpreting trial data and applying results to real-world patient care.