Spanish researchers are testing new immunotherapy approaches for multiple sclerosis. The disease often advances quietly in the brain, making early detection and treatment critical. Patients and doctors face uncertainty as therapies evolve.
For many people in Spain, the real danger of multiple sclerosis isn’t the first attack, but the slow, unnoticed damage that builds up in the brain long before symptoms are obvious. Even as treatments have improved, this hidden progression remains a stubborn problem for both patients and doctors.
Researchers at the CaixaResearch Institute in Barcelona are working to change that. Their focus is on new immunotherapy strategies aimed at stopping the nerve damage that continues even when outward symptoms seem stable. Led by immunologist Gabriel Rabinovich, the team is studying galectins—proteins that help regulate inflammation. By enhancing these natural controls, they hope to protect nerve cells and slow the disease. The CaixaResearch Institute says it is the first center in Spain dedicated specifically to immunology.
"More than 55,000 people in Spain live with multiple sclerosis, and about 1,900 new cases are diagnosed each year, with nearly 70% of patients being women."
— la Caixa Foundation
Current treatments can reduce flare-ups, but they often don’t stop the gradual loss of neurons that leads to the most disabling forms of the disease. Ana Zabalza, a neurologist at CEMCAT, points out that many patients notice subtle changes—slower movement, trouble concentrating, constant fatigue—long before any major relapse. These shifts are easy to overlook, but over time, they add up.
Núria García, a patient, has lived through this. Her first symptoms in 2017—a numb thumb, weakness, and involuntary hand movements—were dismissed after initial scans. Only a second review revealed extensive brain lesions and led to a diagnosis. For years, standard treatments and corticosteroids kept her stable. But gradually, she found she could no longer run or focus as before. The disease had shifted from relapsing-remitting to a progressive form, with damage accumulating quietly.
Spain sees about 1,900 new cases of multiple sclerosis each year, mostly in women between 20 and 40. Despite progress, old stereotypes linger. Many still assume the disease always leads to a wheelchair, but with proper care, most patients can live normally for years. CEMCAT’s approach brings together neurology, physiotherapy, psychology, and rehabilitation to support patients at every stage, not just during flare-ups. According to the la Caixa Foundation, the main clinical challenge is still the hidden inflammation and nerve damage that can continue even when relapses are under control. This highlights the need for treatments that do more than just suppress visible symptoms.
"Recent independent research summarized by Medscape in September 2026 confirms that while modern therapies reduce relapses and lesion activity, they do not always lead to significant improvements in disability progression. B-cell depleting therapies, for example, lowered relapse rates and T2 lesion volume but showed no significant difference in disability scores or nerve damage markers over two years."
— Medscape
The most promising new treatments may come from cancer research. CAR-T cell therapy, already used for some lymphomas, is now being tested for multiple sclerosis. This approach involves removing a patient’s immune cells, genetically modifying them, and returning them to the body to target specific inflammation. Unlike most drugs, CAR-T cells can cross the blood-brain barrier, which could allow direct treatment inside the brain.
Early trials are underway, but there are still questions about long-term safety, how long the effects last, and cost. The CaixaResearch Institute wants to make sure that advances in immunology become real options for patients, not just lab results. For people living with multiple sclerosis, new treatments offer hope, but uncertainty remains.
Fatigue, cognitive changes, and mood swings are among the invisible symptoms that disrupt daily life for most patients. Zabalza stresses the importance of trust and shared decisions between doctors and patients. Núria, now 51, says meeting others with the same diagnosis has helped her cope. She finds comfort in knowing she isn’t alone, even as the future remains uncertain.
There is still no cure for multiple sclerosis, but the situation has changed a lot in recent decades. Thirty years ago, effective treatments were rare. Now, Spanish specialists have access to a wide range of therapies, though stopping disease progression is still a challenge. As research continues, the hope is that new approaches—whether through galectins, CAR-T, or other innovations—will finally address the silent, ongoing damage in the brain.
Across Spanish healthcare, there is a push for earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment, as the system adapts to new pressures. The pharmaceutical sector faces rising costs and international policy changes, as noted in recent analysis. For patients like Núria, the stakes are immediate. The next breakthrough needs to reach those who need it most. Spain’s model—combining research, integrated care, and patient support—offers a path forward, but only if innovation is matched by access and continued investment.
