Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is a prescription drug that works to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) by weakening the immune system. Your response to this drug may vary based on your medical history and diagnosis.
Kesimpta belongs to a class of medications called CD20-directed cytolytic antibodies. These drugs work by weakening certain activity of the immune system.
The way a drug works is known medically as its mechanism of action.
Kesimpta treats MS, clinically isolated syndrome, and other forms of MS. These conditions cause the immune system to attack the covering protecting the spinal cord and brain. When damage occurs to this covering, the brain has difficulty communicating with the rest of the body.
Researchers don’t fully understand Kesimpta’s mechanism of action (how it works) for treating these conditions. But they believe the drug decreases some activity of the immune system. In doing so, Kesimpta may help keep the immune system from attacking the protective covering around the brain and spinal cord.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have more questions about how Kesimpta works.
Kesimpta starts working in your body during your first few weeks of treatment. It does this by lowering certain cells in the immune system that cause damage from MS. In most people, Kesimpta reaches its full effect in the body after 2 to 3 months.
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