A. Traboulsee
University of British Columbia NeurologyAuthor Of 2 Presentations
FC01.03 - Effect of satralizumab on relapse severity in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD): results from the Phase III SAkura studies
Abstract
Background
NMOSD is an autoimmune disorder characterized by acute, unpredictable relapses that result in accumulating disability. Satralizumab, a humanized, monoclonal recycling antibody that targets the interleukin-6 receptor, reduced relapse frequency and had a favourable safety profile vs placebo in two randomized, phase 3 clinical trials: SAkuraSky (satralizumab in combination with baseline immunosuppressants; NCT02028884), and SAkuraStar (satralizumab monotherapy; NCT02073279).
Objectives
To assess the impact of satralizumab on relapse severity in patients with NMOSD.
Methods
Patients in the SAkura studies received satralizumab 120mg or placebo at Weeks 0, 2, 4, and Q4W thereafter. This analysis was performed using data from the pooled intention-to-treat population across the double-blind periods of both studies. We assessed the severity of protocol-defined relapses (PDRs) by comparing patients’ Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at PDR vs their score prior to relapse (last scheduled study visit). A similar analysis on optic neuritis PDRs was performed using visual Functional Systems Score (FSS). A PDR was categorised as severe if it resulted in a change of ≥2 points on the EDSS or visual FSS (optic neuritis analysis). Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to assess time to first severe PDR. Additionally, the number of patients receiving acute therapy for any relapse was compared between treatment groups.
Results
Overall, 178 patients were included in the analyses. In the satralizumab group, 27 of 104 patients (26%) experienced a PDR vs 34 of 74 patients (46%) in the placebo group. The proportion of PDRs that were severe was lower in patients receiving satralizumab vs placebo (5 of 27 events [19%] vs 12 of 34 events [35%]). Similarly, the proportion of optic neuritis PDRs that were severe was lower in patients receiving satralizumab vs placebo (2 of 8 events [25%] vs 5 of 13 events [39%]). Across all patients, there was a 79% reduction in severe PDR risk with satralizumab vs placebo (hazard ratio [95% CI]; 0.21 [0.07–0.61]; p=0.002). A lower proportion of patients receiving satralizumab were prescribed acute relapse therapy vs placebo (38% vs 58%; odds ratio [95% CI] 0.46 [0.25–0.86], p=0.015).
Conclusions
Patients treated with satralizumab had a lower risk of severe relapse, and were less likely to receive acute relapse therapy compared with placebo. The number of patients with severe PDRs was low, so results should be interpreted with caution.
FC03.05 - Reduced thalamic atrophy in patients initiating earlier versus delayed ocrelizumab therapy: results from the OLE of OPERA I/II and ORATORIO
Abstract
Background
In multiple sclerosis (MS), thalamic integrity is affected both directly by demyelination, neuronal loss and increasing iron concentration, and indirectly by remote gray and white matter lesions affecting neural projections into and out of the thalamus. Thalamic atrophy may therefore reflect a large fraction of MS-related brain damage and thus represent a useful marker of overall damage and therapeutic efficacy.
Objectives
To assess the efficacy of ocrelizumab (OCR) in patients switching to or maintaining OCR therapy on thalamic atrophy in patients with relapsing MS (RMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS), participating in the OPERA I/II (NCT01247324/NCT01412333) and ORATORIO (NCT01194570) Phase III trials, respectively.
Methods
At the end of the double-blind controlled treatment period in OPERA I/II, patients entered the open‑label extension (OLE), and either continued to receive OCR (OCR-OCR) or switched from interferon β-1a (IFN β-1a) to OCR (IFN β-1a-OCR). In ORATORIO, patients entered the OLE ~3–9 months after the double-blind period cut-off and either continued OCR (OCR-OCR) or switched from placebo (PBO) to OCR (PBO-OCR). Changes in thalamic volume from the core trial baseline were computed using Jacobian integration and analyzed using a mixed-effect repeated measurement model, adjusted for baseline volume, age, baseline gadolinium-enhancing lesions (presence/absence), baseline T2 lesion volume, region (US vs rest of the world), Expanded Disability Status Scale category (<4, ≥4), week, treatment, treatment and time interaction, and treatment and baseline volume interaction.
Results
In the OLE of OPERA I/II, changes (%) in thalamic volume from baseline at OLE Week 46, 94, 142, 190, and 238, were: –2.88/–2.12 (p<0.001), –3.31/–2.36 (p<0.001), –3.61/–2.78 (p<0.001), –3.68/–3.03 (p<0.001), and –4.07/–3.41 (p<0.001), for IFN β-1a-OCR/OCR-OCR patients, respectively. During the OLE of ORATORIO, changes in thalamic volume at OLE Day 1, Week 48, 96, and 144, were: –3.46/–2.44 (p<0.001), –3.93/–2.61 (p<0.001), –4.30/–3.25 (p<0.001), and –4.86/–3.62 (p<0.001), for PBO-OCR/OCR-OCR patients, respectively.
Conclusions
In the OLE, patients with RMS and PPMS who were initially randomized to ocrelizumab experienced less thalamic volume loss compared with those initiating ocrelizumab later.