Two medicines, side by side
Fingolimod vs dimethyl fumarate
Fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate are both labeled for multiple sclerosis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of fingolimod since 2010 and of dimethyl fumarate since 2013. Pharmacies paid $1.58 per fingolimod 0.5 mg capsule and $0.467 per dimethyl fumarate DR 240 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the fingolimod FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 22, 2026); the dimethyl fumarate FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 29, 2025).
Highlights of the fingolimod record
Fingolimod (Gilenya) · label of July 22, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsGILENYA is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in patients 10 years of age and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 21, 2010
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.58 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the dimethyl fumarate record
Dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera) · label of July 29, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsDimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules are indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 27, 2013
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.467 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Fingolimod label of July 22, 2026, Dimethyl fumarate label of July 29, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Fingolimod, “Fingolimod is metabolized by sphingosine kinase to the active metabolite, fingolimod-phosphate.”; Dimethyl fumarate, “The mechanism by which dimethyl fumarate (DMF) exerts its therapeutic effect in multiple sclerosis is unknown.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Fingolimod, “Elimination Fingolimod blood clearance is 6.3 ± 2.3 L/h, and the average apparent terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) is 6 to 9 …”; Dimethyl fumarate, “The terminal half-life of MMF is approximately 1 hour and no circulating MMF is present at 24 hours in the majority of …”
Generics: fingolimod since 2019; dimethyl fumarate since 2020 (Drugs@FDA).
| Fingolimod | Dimethyl fumarate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Multiple sclerosis | Multiple sclerosis |
| Pharmacologic class | Sphingosine 1-phosphate Receptor Modulator | n/a |
| How it works (label) | Fingolimod is metabolized by sphingosine kinase to the active metabolite, fingolimod-phosphate. | The mechanism by which dimethyl fumarate (DMF) exerts its therapeutic effect in multiple sclerosis is unknown. |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination Fingolimod blood clearance is 6.3 ± 2.3 L/h, and the average apparent terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) is 6 to 9 days. | The terminal half-life of MMF is approximately 1 hour and no circulating MMF is present at 24 hours in the majority of individuals. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 21, 2010 | March 27, 2013 |
| First generic approved | December 4, 2019 | August 17, 2020 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 21 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.58 per capsule (Fingolimod 0.5 mg capsule) | $0.467 per capsule (Dimethyl fumarate DR 240 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -72% | -43% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 86,658 | 122,284 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to fingolimod
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions