Monomethyl fumarate, sold under the brand name Bafiertam is a

medication A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field and re ...

for the treatment of relapsing forms of

multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...

, to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. It is taken by mouth. The most common adverse reactions are flushing,

abdominal pain Abdominal pain, also known as a stomach ache, is a symptom Signs and symptoms are the observed or detectable signs, and experienced symptoms of an illness, injury, or condition. A sign for example may be a higher or lower temperature than ...

diarrhea Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin wi ...

, and

nausea Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. While not painful, it can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of the ...

. It was approved for medical use in the United States in April 2020.

Pharmacology

Monomethyl fumarate alters the NFE2L2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) transcription factor. NFE2L2 (or NRF2) is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation. Several drugs that stimulate the NFE2L2 pathway are being studied for treatment of diseases that are caused by oxidative stress. Two precursors are also approved: *

Dimethyl fumarate Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is the methyl ester of fumaric acid and is named after the earth smoke plant (''Fumaria officinalis''). Dimethyl fumarate combined with three other fumaric acid esters (FAEs) is solely licensed in Germany as an oral thera ...

(brand name Tecfidera), *

Diroximel fumarate Diroximel fumarate, sold under the brand name Vumerity, is a medication used for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). It acts as an immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory drug. Its most common adverse effects are flus ...

(brand name Vumerity), approved by the FDA in October 2019.

Society and culture

Names

Monomethyl fumarate is the international nonproprietary name (INN).

References

External links

* Multiple sclerosis {{antineoplastic-drug-stub