H. Koendgen
F. Hoffmann-La Roche LtdAuthor Of 2 Presentations
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.
SS02.05 - COVID-19 in persons with multiple sclerosis treated with ocrelizumab: pharmacovigilance update
Abstract
Background
Limited evidence-based data exist on potential risks of COVID-19 infection in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) receiving immunotherapy. More than 160,000 pwMS have been treated with ocrelizumab (OCR), in clinical trial and real-world settings; data continue to show a consistent and favorable benefit/risk profile.
Objectives
To present a summary of postmarketing pharmacovigilance data (as of May 31, 2020) from pwMS treated with OCR, who have either confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
Methods
Pharmacovigilance-reported adverse event (AE) COVID-19 cases, identified in a search of the Roche Global Safety Database using MedDRA preferred terms and string searches, were defined as valid when at least an identifiable reporter, a single identifiable patient, a medicinal product and a suspected AE were provided. Cases were designated as serious if described by the reporter as serious according to their judgment or if adjudicated as serious by the company when regulatory definitions were met. Patient characteristics and details of OCR treatment were usually provided. All cases were conservatively considered as having confirmed COVID-19. Outcome was classified as recovered, recovering, not recovered, fatal, or not reported.
Results
Of 201 cases, 61% (n=122/201) were reported as non-serious, and 39% (n=79/201) were reported as serious, mostly due to hospitalization (n=51/79). Where known, reasons for hospitalization included, among others, treatment of pneumonia and treatment in ICU. Serious cases were reported as recovered/recovering in 32% (n=25/79) of patients, whilst the outcome was not reported in 33% (n=26/79) of serious cases. A fatal outcome was reported in 5.5% (n=11/201) of patients; risk factors included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disease, and malignancy. Updated assessment of the pharmacovigilance cases will be presented.
Conclusions
Taking into account the known limitations of postmarketing safety data, this analysis appears to be in line with published larger case series of non-MS and MS COVID-19 patients. Risk factors in fatal cases were similar to known risk factors reported in the general population.