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Where is Gilenya manufactured and by whom?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 18, 2024.

Official answer

by drugclasses.com
  • Gilenya is manufactured by Novartis.
  • Gilenya is manufactured in the Novartis Pharma GmbH manufacturing plant situated in Nuremberg, Germany.

Gilenya (fingolimod) is an immunosuppressant that may be used for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults, and children and adolescents aged 10 years and older.

Gilenya is a Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation product. Novartis is a Swiss company and its headquarters are in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis also makes other drugs such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), clozapine (Clozaril), cyclosporine (Neoral/Sandimmune), diclofenac (Voltaren), imatinib mesylate (Gleevec/Glivec), letrozole (Femara), methylphenidate (Ritalin), terbinafine (Lamisil), valsartan (Diovan), and others.

Gilenya is manufactured in the Novartis Pharma GmbH manufacturing plant situated in Nuremberg, Germany.

How does Gilenya work?

Gilenya works by blocking the migration of lymphocytes (a type of immune cell) from the lymph nodes into the bloodstream.

Although it is not exactly known how Gilenya exerts its effects in multiple sclerosis it may be due to a decrease in the migration of lymphocytes into the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).

Gilenya will not cure MS, it will only decrease the frequency of relapse symptoms.

What is Gilenya made from?

Gilenya is derived from myriocin (ISP-1), a natural immunosuppressant and metabolite of the fungus Isaria sinclairii. It was first made by Yoshitomi Pharmaceuticals in 1992 from ISP-I through chemical modification.

References

Read next

Gilenya vs Tecfidera. How do they compare?

Gilenya and Tecfidera are both disease-modifying oral medications approved for the treatment of MS. Both are equally effective although Tecfidera is more likely than Gilenya to be discontinued within 24 months. Gilenya is approved to treat adults and children aged 10 and older and Tecfidera is only approved for adults over the age of 18. Common side effects of Gilenya include heart rhythm disturbances, diarrhea, infections, and elevations in liver enzymes and common side effects of Tecfidera include flushing, gastrointestinal disturbances, and infections. Tecfidera is slightly more expensive than Gilenya. Continue reading

Can Gilenya cause weight gain?

Although weight gain is not reported as a side effect of Gilenya in the product information, blog posts suggest weight gain can be common with Gilenya, with some people reporting weight increases of 15 to 30 pounds. Continue reading

Can Gilenya cause high blood pressure?

In clinical studies, Gilenya (fingolimod) caused both high blood pressure (hypertension) and increases in blood pressure that were sustained with continued treatment. Tell your doctor before you start treatment if you have high blood pressure now or a history of high blood pressure. Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure while you are taking Gilenya. Continue reading

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