A Phase III study conducted by Sanofi healthcare has demonstrated positive results of a once-daily oral medication for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Teriflunomide is an immunomodulatory, disease-modifying oral drug with anti-inflammatory properties.

The two-year TEMSO trial involved 1,088 patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and showed that the drug reduced the risk of annual relapses, disability progressions and disease activity, compared to a placebo.

The company filed teriflunomide with the US Food and Drug Administration in August of 2011 and is expecting to file with the European Medicines Agency in the first quarter of 2012.

The findings from the study are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.