Multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating 
polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) represent chronic, autoimmune demyelinating 
disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. Although both disorders 
share some fundamental pathogenic elements, treatments do not provide uniform 
effects across both disorders. We aim at providing an overview of current and 
future disease-modifying strategies in these disorders to demonstrate 
communalities and distinctions. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) have 
demonstrated short- and long-term beneficial effects in CIDP but are not 
effective in MS. Dimethyl fumarate (BG-12), teriflunomide and laquinimod are 
orally administered immunomodulatory drugs that are already approved or likely 
to be approved in the near future for the basic therapy of patients with 
relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) due to positive results in Phase III clinical 
trials. However, clinical trials with these drugs in CIDP have not (yet) been 
initiated. Natalizumab and fingolimod are approved for the treatment of RRMS, 
and trials to evaluate their safety and efficacy in CIDP are now planned. 
Alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab and daclizumab respresent monoclonal antibodies in 
advanced stages of clinical development for their use in RRMS patients. Attempts 
to study the safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab and B cell-depleting anti-CD20 
antibodies, i.e. rituximab, ocrelizumab or ofatumumab, in CIDP patients are 
currently under way. We provide an overview of the mechanism of action and 
clinical data available on disease-modifying immunotherapy options for MS and 
CIDP. Enhanced understanding of the relative effects of therapies in these two 
disorders may aid rational treatment selection and the development of innovative 
treatment approaches in the future.