Disclosed herein are methods of treating a human patient afflicted with multiple sclerosis (MS) or presenting a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), for treating a human subject by providing neuroprotection, and of treating a human patient afflicted with MS or presenting a CIS by increasing the time to confirmed disease progression and/or confirmed relapse or reducing brain atrophy, comprising orally administering a daily dose of about 1.2 mg laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical oral unit dosage form of about 1.2 mg laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for use in treating a human patient afflicted with MS or presenting a CIS, in treating a human subject by providing neuroprotection, or in treating a human patient afflicted with MS or presenting a CIS by increasing the time to confirmed disease progression and/or confirmed relapse or reducing brain atrophy.