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  • Mavenclad®
Back to Treatment Guide

Mavenclad®

cladribine

Quick Facts

Mavenclad® (cladribine) selectively targets, depletes and then reconstitutes immune cells.

Tablet taken orally.

Two treatment courses. Second course one year after the first course. Dosing is weight based.

Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults, including relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary-progressive MS. Not recommended for clinically isolated syndrome

Potential Benefit:

  • 58% reduction in relapse rate with 81% of people remaining relapse-free after 96 weeks.
  • In MRI scans, Mavenclad showed a 73% reduction in new or enlarging T2 lesions compared to placebo.
  • Unlike ongoing maintenance therapies, Mavenclad® is delivered in a short course with the goal of long-term sustained reduction in inflammation and disease progression.

Common Potential Side Effects

Upper respiratory tract infections, headache, decreased lymphocyte counts.

Prescription Assistance:

MS Lifelines >

For assistance finding additional resources that might help cover the costs of your prescription, contact MSAA.

Hear from the Expert
Barry A. Hendin, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
Barry A. Hendin, MD
“It’s always important to include patients in treatment decisions. It improves adherence and it’s just respectful.”

DRUGMAKER

EMD Serono

HOW Mavenclad® WORKS

Mavenclad® works by targeting and temporarily reducing the amount of T and B cells (lymphocytes). These white blood cells are associated with the abnormal immune response that causes damage to the myelin coating of nerves.

FDA-Approved

Mavenclad® was FDA-approved in 2019 for relapsing forms of MS, including relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary-progressive disease, in adults. Mavenclad® is not recommended for use in individuals with clinically isolated syndrome.

Potential Side Effects

please edit to read: Upper respiratory tract infection, headache, low white blood cell count (lymphopenia), nausea, back pain, joint pain, and insomnia. More rare but serious adverse events are lymphopenia, herpes zoster infection, tuberculosis, and increased risk of malignancy (cancer). A possible serious side effect is progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain infection that usually leads to death or severe disability over a period of weeks or months.

OTHER KEY INFORMATION

Testing completed prior to starting Mavenclad® includes:

  • Blood Test

Testing completed after starting Mavenclad® includes:

  • Blood test three and seven months into treatment course
  • Blood test before beginning the second year of treatment

Patient advocates talk about
their treatment experience

  • Kristie Salerno Kent
    MS Advocate, Patient Advocacy Consultant
    Kristie Salerno Kent
    “I have had situations where treatments aren’t approved at first. My doctors, nurses, they go actually go to bat for me and made it happen.”
  • Azure Antoinette
    MS Advocate
    Azure Antoinette
    “I wish would have had access or agency to get seen sooner and to treat this sooner.”
  • Damian Washington
    MS Advocate
    Damian Washington
    “Nobody’s going to be looking out for your best interests better than you.”
  • Cathy Chester
    MS Advocate
    Cathy Chester
    “I think it’s really important to talk about how to age with this illness.”
  • Lauren Hutton-Work
    MS Advocate
    Lauren Hutton-Work
    “Just because you have this disease does not mean that your work life should be awkward or uncomfortable.”
  • Chernise Joseph
    MS Advocate
    Chernise Joseph
    “My first neurologist was a frontline neurologist, he wasn’t an MS specialist.”
  • Julian Gamboa
    MS Advocate
    Julian Gamboa
    “If you’re newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis remember it’s always okay to get a second opinion.”
  • Sam and Lauren Alcorn
    MS Advocates
    Sam and Lauren Alcorn
    “Our future is uncertain and we have to enjoy each other and love each other in the present.”
  • Shawn Feliciano
    MS Advocate
    Shawn Feliciano
    “I want to know what medications might work best for someone who’s Hispanic.”
  • Darlene Feigen
    MS Advocate
    Darlene Feigen
    “The sooner you get on a therapy the better it is in the long run.”
  • Birgit Bauer
    MS Advocate
    Birgit Bauer
    “At the end of the appointment you should have an answer to the most important questions.”
  • Ellen Tutton
    MS Advocate
    Ellen Tutton
    “I looked up all the different disease modifying therapies and compared them to my lifestyle.”
  • Victoria Marie Reese
    MS Advocate
    Victoria Marie Reese
    “I’m trying to show my daughter that taking care of yourself is cool.”
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Last modified: Aug 4, 2022

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