Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) agonists are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry, due to their potential to treat diseases of the immune system such as psoriasis and multiple sclerosis as well as cancer.5, 6 S1PR agonists, such as fingolimod and ponesimod (Fig. 1), initially activate sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, but subsequently trigger receptor internalisation. This evidence concerns the gene S1PR1 and multiple sclerosis.