Emerging therapies for treatment of multiple sclerosis

In the last decade, a new armamentarium of immune-based therapies have been developed and tested in patients with multiple sclerosis. Some of these therapies are showing a high level of efficacy, with an acceptable adverse effect profile. Because present therapies have significant limitations in slowing disease progression, require injections, are sometimes associated with significant side effects of immunosuppression, and do little to reverse disability, identifying more effective treatments is an important goal for clinical research in multiple sclerosis. However, in order to improve our current approach to disease-modifying therapies, it is imperative to promote the development of individualized therapy strategies

Effect of natalizumab on disease progression in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (ASCEND). a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with an open-label extension

Background: Although several disease-modifying treatments are available for relapsing multiple sclerosis, treatment effects have been more modest in progressive multiple sclerosis and have been observed particularly in actively relapsing subgroups or those with lesion activity on imaging. We sought to assess whether natalizumab slows disease progression in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, independent of relapses. Methods: ASCEND was a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (part 1) with an optional 2 year open-label extension (part 2). Enrolled patients aged 18–58 years were natalizumab-naive and had secondary progressive multiple sclerosis for 2 years or more, disability progression unrelated to relapses in the previous year, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores of 3·0–6·5. In part 1, patients from 163 sites in 17 countries were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 300 mg intravenous natalizumab or placebo every 4 weeks for 2 years. Patients were stratified by site and by EDSS score (3·0–5·5 vs 6·0–6·5). Patients completing part 1 could enrol in part 2, in which all patients received natalizumab every 4 weeks until the end of the study. Throughout both parts, patients and staff were masked to the treatment received in part 1. The primary outcome in part 1 was the proportion of patients with sustained disability progression, assessed by one or more of three measures: the EDSS, Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), and 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT). The primary outcome in part 2 was the incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events. Efficacy and safety analyses were done in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01416181. Findings: Between Sept 13, 2011, and July 16, 2015, 889 patients were randomly assigned (n=440 to the natalizumab group, n=449 to the placebo group). In part 1, 195 (44%) of 439 natalizumab-treated patients and 214 (48%) of 448 placebo-treated patients had confirmed disability progression (odds ratio [OR] 0·86; 95% CI 0·66–1·13; p=0·287). No treatment effect was observed on the EDSS (OR 1·06, 95% CI 0·74–1·53; nominal p=0·753) or the T25FW (0·98, 0·74–1·30; nominal p=0·914) components of the primary outcome. However, natalizumab treatment reduced 9HPT progression (OR 0·56, 95% CI 0·40–0·80; nominal p=0·001). In part 1, 100 (22%) placebo-treated and 90 (20%) natalizumab-treated patients had serious adverse events. In part 2, 291 natalizumab-continuing patients and 274 natalizumab-naive patients received natalizumab (median follow-up 160 weeks [range 108–221]). Serious adverse events occurred in 39 (13%) patients continuing natalizumab and in 24 (9%) patients initiating natalizumab. Two deaths occurred in part 1, neither of which was considered related to study treatment. No progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy occurred. Interpretation: Natalizumab treatment for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis did not reduce progression on the primary multicomponent disability endpoint in part 1, but it did reduce progression on its upper-limb component. Longer-term trials are needed to assess whether treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis might produce benefits on additional disability components. Funding: Biogen

Current and Emerging Therapies for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: Focus on Cladribine

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, immune-mediated, demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system with a heterogeneous clinical presentation and pathology in which activated lymphocytes play an important role in mediating tissue damage. Until recently, all first line therapies for MS were injectable. Several oral medications have been studied for preventative treatment of MS. Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) is a purine nucleoside analog that has been used for the treatment of several hematologic neoplasms, with a unique lymphcytotoxic mechanism of action. Cladribine has been investigated as treatment of MS for more than 15 years. A recent placebo-controlled, double-blind study of cladribine, CLARITY, showed decreased relapse rates, risk of disability progression and MRI measures of disease activity at 96 weeks. Cladribine's strengths included high efficacy and convenient, biannual oral dosing. However, concerns about safety prevented the FDA from approving cladribine in 2011. Thus, use of cladribine for treatment of relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis will remain off-label

Post-natalizumab disease reactivation in multiple sclerosis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Natalizumab (NTZ) is sometimes discontinued in patients with multiple sclerosis, mainly due to concerns about the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. However, NTZ interruption may result in recrudescence of disease activity. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to summarize the available evidence about NTZ discontinuation and to identify which patients will experience post-NTZ disease reactivation through meta-analysis of existing literature data. METHODS: PubMed was searched for articles reporting the effects of NTZ withdrawal in adult patients (⩾18 years) with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Definition of disease activity following NTZ discontinuation, proportion of patients who experienced post-NTZ disease reactivation, and timing to NTZ discontinuation to disease reactivation were systematically reviewed. A generic inverse variance with random effect was used to calculate the weighted effect of patients clinical characteristics on the risk of post-NTZ disease reactivation, defined as the occurrence of at least one relapse. RESULTS: The original search identified 205 publications. Thirty-five articles were included in the systematic review. We found a high level of heterogeneity across studies in terms of sample size (10 to 1866 patients), baseline patient characteristics, follow up (1-24 months), outcome measures (clinical and/or radiological), and definition of post-NTZ disease reactivation or rebound. Clinical relapses were observed in 9-80% of patients and peaked at 4-7 months, whereas radiological disease activity was observed in 7-87% of patients starting at 6 weeks following NTZ discontinuation. The meta-analysis of six articles, yielding a total of 1183 patients, revealed that younger age, higher number of relapses and gadolinium-enhanced lesions before treatment start, and fewer NTZ infusions were associated with increased risk for post-NTZ disease reactivation (p ⩽ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results from the present review and meta-analysis can help to profile patients who are at greater risk of post-NTZ disease reactivation. However, potential reporting bias and variability in selected studies should be taken into account when interpreting our data

Post-natalizumab disease reactivation in multiple sclerosis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Natalizumab (NTZ) is sometimes discontinued in patients with multiple sclerosis, mainly due to concerns about the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. However, NTZ interruption may result in recrudescence of disease activity. Objective: The objective of this study was to summarize the available evidence about NTZ discontinuation and to identify which patients will experience post-NTZ disease reactivation through meta-analysis of existing literature data. Methods: PubMed was searched for articles reporting the effects of NTZ withdrawal in adult patients (⩾18 years) with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Definition of disease activity following NTZ discontinuation, proportion of patients who experienced post-NTZ disease reactivation, and timing to NTZ discontinuation to disease reactivation were systematically reviewed. A generic inverse variance with random effect was used to calculate the weighted effect of patients’ clinical characteristics on the risk of post-NTZ disease reactivation, defined as the occurrence of at least one relapse. Results: The original search identified 205 publications. Thirty-five articles were included in the systematic review. We found a high level of heterogeneity across studies in terms of sample size (10 to 1866 patients), baseline patient characteristics, follow up (1–24 months), outcome measures (clinical and/or radiological), and definition of post-NTZ disease reactivation or rebound. Clinical relapses were observed in 9–80% of patients and peaked at 4–7 months, whereas radiological disease activity was observed in 7–87% of patients starting at 6 weeks following NTZ discontinuation. The meta-analysis of six articles, yielding a total of 1183 patients, revealed that younger age, higher number of relapses and gadolinium-enhanced lesions before treatment start, and fewer NTZ infusions were associated with increased risk for post-NTZ disease reactivation ( p ⩽ 0.05). Conclusions: Results from the present review and meta-analysis can help to profile patients who are at greater risk of post-NTZ disease reactivation. However, potential reporting bias and variability in selected studies should be taken into account when interpreting our data

Table e1 - Exploratory Patient Reported Outcomes Differences Between Study Groups

Table showing the differences in Patient Reported Outcome instruments from baseline to end of study with comparisons between the study groups

Data from: Rituximab vs placebo induction prior to glatiramer acetate monotherapy in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To examine whether rituximab induction followed by glatiramer acetate (GA) monotherapy is more effective than GA alone for the treatment of relapsing MS with active disease. Methods: This was a single center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study(NCT01569451). Fifty-five participants were randomly assigned (1:1ratio) to either rituximab (R-GA) or placebo induction (P-GA), followed by all participants initiating GA therapy. Participants were followed up to 3-years. The primary endpoint was the number of participants with no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) (those without relapse, new MRI lesions and sustained change in disability. Results: Twenty-eight and 27 participants received rituximab and placebo induction, respectively, with one participant in each arm withdrawing prior to 6-month MRI. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. At end of study, 44.44% of R-GA participants demonstrated NEDA, vs 19.23% of P-GA participants (p = 0.049). A smaller proportion of R-GA participants failed treatment (37.04%R-GA vs 69.23%P-GA, p=0.019), and time to treatment failure was longer (23.32 monthsR-GA vs 11.29 monthsP-GA, p=0.027). Fewer participants in the R-GA arm had new lesions (25.93%R-GA vs 61.54%P-GA, p=0.009), and there were fewer new T2 lesions (0.48R-GA vs 1.96P-GA vs, p=0.027). Probability of demonstrating NEDA in the R-GA arm returned to baseline within the study period. There were no differences in adverse events. Conclusions: Induction therapy with rituximab followed by GA may provide superior efficacy in the short term to GA alone in relapsing MS, but this benefit appears to wane within the study period. Larger studies are needed to assess sustainability of results