Russian-Belarusian Expert Council “New opportunities in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis” (October 1, 2023). Main conclusions of the first meeting

A joint conclusion of the Russian-Belarusian Expert Council “New opportunities in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis” on the organization of medical care, diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases is presented. 12 neurologists from different medical institutions in Russia and Belarus took part in the work of the Council. In the conclusions of the Council, special attention was paid to two new Russian original drugs, modifying the course of MS. The place of these drugs in the healthcare system of these countries was determined. Sampeginterferon beta-1a itself is an effective and safe drug of first choice (first-line treatment) for relapsing remitting MS. Divozilimab is a highly effective and safe second-line treatment indicated for rapidly progressive and highly active MS, even when substituted for a firstor second-line treatment in relapsing remitting and secondary progressive (with exacerbations) MS. The experts emphasized how promising the use of these drugs is in the complex treatment of MS.