Background

Alemtuzumab is an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody therapy approved for treating RRMS. Although alemtuzumab is associated with non–MS-related secondary autoimmune events, the role pre-existing non-MS autoimmunity plays in secondary autoimmunity is unclear.

Objectives

To assess the impact of 1) pre-existing non-MS autoimmunity and 2) post-alemtuzumab thyroid autoimmunity on subsequent onset of new autoimmunity up to 9 years after initiating alemtuzumab.

Methods

In clinical trials (NCT00050778, NCT00530348, NCT00548405, NCT00930553, NCT02255656), patients were monitored for autoimmune adverse events (AEs). All patient- and investigator-reported AEs were recorded. An autoimmune event was pre-existing if it occurred prior to initiating alemtuzumab or was in the medical history database.

Results

A total of 1216 patients from the alemtuzumab clinical development program who received alemtuzumab 12 mg were included in the analysis. Ninety-six had pre-existing non-MS autoimmunity. Up to 9 years after alemtuzumab initiation, the percentage of patients with new autoimmune disease was similar in those with (35.4%) versus without (35.3%) pre-existing autoimmunity; similar percentages of patients with versus without pre-existing autoimmunity had ≥2 new autoimmune events (5.2% vs 8.2%, respectively). Most patients with thyroid disorders at baseline did not experience new autoimmunity after alemtuzumab. Treatment-emergent thyroid autoimmunity after alemtuzumab Course 1 was not associated with subsequent nonthyroid autoimmunity after Course 2 (0% of patients with vs 3.0% of patients without thyroid autoimmunity after Course 1). Similarly, thyroid autoimmunity after Course 2 did not predict nonthyroid autoimmunity after Course 3 (1.8% vs 2.0%, respectively). Among 25,292 patients treated with alemtuzumab in the postmarketing setting as of 31 March 2019, additional events (occurring 18–36 months post treatment) included autoimmune hepatitis (10.7 in 10,000) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (2.7 in 10,000).

Conclusions

Over 9 years after alemtuzumab initiation, pre-existing non-MS autoimmunity was not associated with subsequent new autoimmune disease. Emergence of thyroid autoimmunity after Courses 1 and 2 does not appear to predict subsequent serious autoimmune disease.

STUDY SUPPORT: Sanofi and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

Background

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a serious and potentially fatal complication of some multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies, including fingolimod. Precise estimates and risk stratification tools are not available for fingolimod-related PML.

Objectives

To estimate the global risk of PML in MS patients receiving fingolimod, and to investigate the effect of treatment duration and age on the risk of PML.

Methods

The number of PML cases identified from the manufacturer safety database, attributed to fingolimod by expert adjudication (based on criteria published by Berger et al. in 2014) as of 28 February 2020, was compared with the estimated global number of fingolimod-treated patients at risk (overall, by treatment duration, and by assumed age at fingolimod treatment initiation).

Results

It was estimated that approximately 299,600 patients were treated with fingolimod globally as of 28 February 2020, corresponding to >778,900 patient-years (PYs) of exposure. Of the 188 suspected PML cases reported during fingolimod treatment, 37 confirmed cases were clearly attributed to fingolimod through expert adjudication. In 17 cases, PML was attributed to previous natalizumab treatment. The remaining 134 cases either had inadequate information to confirm the diagnosis of PML or were classified as either possible or not PML. The estimated incidence rate was 4.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.34; 6.55) per 100,000 PYs. The estimated crude incidence was 0.12 (95% CI: 0.09–0.17) per 1,000 patients. The incidence of PML appears to increase with treatment duration and approach a plateau at approximately 0.13 per 1,000 patients during Year 5, after which data were scarce. Incidence of PML appears to increase between 30 and 50 years of age and then stabilize but the exact shape of the relationship with age is uncertain due to wide CIs, underlying assumptions, and other unknown confounding factors. For both treatment duration and age at treatment initiation, the precision of the incidence estimates was low due to the small number of cases.

Conclusions

PML risk associated with fingolimod is low. Although, the estimated risk of fingolimod-associated PML appears to increase with cumulative exposure, the precise pattern of this relationship remains uncertain. There may be an increase in PML risk with increased age at treatment initiation, although the exact pattern of this possible relationship is also uncertain.

Background

Ocrelizumab (Ocre) is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with a known major depleting effect on B cells and marginal on T cells. It is approved for clinical use in highly-active naïve multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and those not responder to previous treatment. In MS patients switching from other drugs prolonged dysfunction of adaptive immune system may occur after discontinuation, posing the need to carefully investigate the safety profile of treatment sequencing.

Objectives

To investigate the B and T cells subsets longitudinal dynamic during treatment with Ocre in patients with MS switching from Fingolimod (FTY) and other treatments (Dimetylfumarate, Interferon Beta, Glatiramer Acetate, Natalizumab, Teriflunomide) compared to naïve patients.

Methods

A multicenter observational 2-year study was conducted in patients starting treatment with Ocre grouped in three arms: naïve (naïve), switching from FTY (pre-FTY), switching from other treatments (other). Data about lymphocyte subtype count (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD20+) were collected at baseline and every 6 months after starting Ocre. Slope of reduction and proportion of patients with lymphocytes count below the normal lower limit was calculated.

Results

A sample of 135 patients was analysed (37 pre-FTY, 64 other, 34 naïve). At baseline pre-FTY compared to naïve showed significant decrease of CD3+ (1204.54+675.37 cells/mm3 vs 1735.53+653.56, p=0.0003), CD4+ (551.91+254.42 vs 997.03+352.79, p<0.0001), CD8+ (430.38+379.73 vs 537.75+254.34, p=0.027) and CD20+ (88.25+90.94 vs 191.32+149.62, p=0.021) cells. During Ocre the slope of reduction of CD3+ in naïve patients was 5.45 cells/mm3/week (p=0.003). Compared to naïve, the rate of decrease in CD3+ was -1.2 cells/mm3/week in pre-FTY (p=0.087) and +0.19 (p=0.012) in other. The slope of reduction of CD4+ was 2.00 cells/mm3/week in naïve (p=0.072). Compared to naïve the rate of reduction in CD4+ was +0.91 cells/mm3/week in pre-FTY (p=0.061) and +1.70 cells/mm3/week (p=0.012) in other. CD8+ and CD20+ cells decrease was similar among groups (p for interaction between time and treatment = 0.184 and 0.108, respectively). In pre-FTY group compared to baseline the proportion of patients with CD3+ and CD4+ cells lymphopenia was unchanged (16.22% versus 17.14% ; 32.35% versus 34.29%), while the proportion of CD8+ cells was increased (8.82% versus 25.71%).

Conclusions

Our study confirms that Ocre may induce depletion of T cell subsets beyond B cells. Nevertheless, in pre-FTY we also observed a prolonged T- lymphocytopenia , as carry-over effect of the previous therapy. FTY-induced immunosenescence or slow immunoreconstitution may explain this finding.

Background

Treatment options for pediatric patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) are limited. Teriflunomide, approved for adults with RMS in >80 countries, was investigated in pediatric RMS in TERIKIDS (NCT02201108), a 2-year, multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind (DB), placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 3 study.

Objectives

To report the interim results in pediatric patients from the open-label (OL) period of the TERIKIDS study as of 27 November 2019.

Methods

Patients who either completed 96-week DB treatment or qualified for early switch from DB treatment to OL teriflunomide could continue in the OL period until 192 weeks after initial randomization. All patients in the OL period received teriflunomide at a dose based on body weight, equivalent to 14 mg in adults.

Results

In the DB period, teriflunomide reduced risk of relapse (−34%); however, the difference was not statistically significant versus placebo (P=0.29) so TERIKIDS did not meet its primary endpoint. Teriflunomide significantly reduced risk of relapse or high MRI activity (−43%; P=0.041; prespecified sensitivity analysis), number of new/enlarging T2 lesions (−55%; P=0.0006), and number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions (−75%; P<0.0001) relative to placebo. At the cut-off date, 100 (91.7%) patients from the teriflunomide and 52 (91.2%) from the placebo group enrolled in the OL period; 34 patients discontinued, 30 completed, and 88 were ongoing. From DB randomization to week 192, risk of relapse was numerically lower with continuous teriflunomide versus placebo/teriflunomide (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.61 [0.38 to 0.98]; P=0.098), as was risk of disability progression sustained for 24 weeks (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.552 [0.245 to 1.242]). Number of new/enlarging T2 lesions per MRI scan was reduced with continuous teriflunomide versus placebo/teriflunomide (6.3 vs 13.0; P=0.0006). Incidence of adverse events during the OL period was lower with continuous teriflunomide versus placebo/teriflunomide (68.0% vs 82.7%). Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation during the OL period in 8 patients (increased alanine aminotransferase [n=5], peripheral neuropathy [n=1], pancreatitis [n=2]).

Conclusions

Interim analysis showed that continuous teriflunomide numerically lowered the risk of clinical relapses and 24-week sustained disability progression in pediatric patients compared with delayed initiation of teriflunomide after placebo. Teriflunomide was well tolerated and had a manageable safety profile.

STUDY SUPPORT: Sanofi.

Background

DMF is a well-established therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS); data from ENDORSE, an extension to phase 3 studies DEFINE and CONFIRM, has enabled >10 years follow-up.

Objectives

We report safety/efficacy of DMF in patients with RMS treated with DMF and followed for 13 years in ENDORSE (NCT00835770) (2 years DEFINE/CONFIRM, and >10 years ENDORSE).

Methods

Incidence of serious AEs (SAEs), discontinuations due to AEs, annualized relapse rate (ARR) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score were assessed. Patients were treated with DMF 240 mg BID: placebo (PBO)/DMF (PBO, years 0–2 /DMF, years 3–10) or continuously (DMF/DMF). Efficacy outcomes were assessed in patients up to 10 years due to sample size considerations. For lymphocyte analysis, data from first DMF exposure were analysed for patients in DEFINE/CONFIRM/ENDORSE.

Results

At 23 January 2020, 1736 patients enrolled/received ≥1 dose DMF. Of 1736 patients, 760 completed. Patients were followed for a median (min,max) of 6.76(0.04,10.98) years in ENDORSE, and 2 years in DEFINE/CONFIRM. Overall, 551 (32%) patients experienced SAEs; most were MS relapse and fall. There was one case of PML in this study. There was no increased incidence of other infections or serious infections. Sixteen percent (n=282) patients discontinued due to AEs; 2% relapse, 2% disease progression, and 4% GI disorders. ALC decreased over the first 48 weeks, and then remained generally stable for the majority of the study. The proportion of patients with other AEs of special interest (including opportunistic infection, malignancy, and serious herpes zoster) was similar regardless of ALC. For patients continuously treated (n=501), overall ARR remained low (0.141[95% CI, 0.119,0.167]), while for PBO/DMF patients (n=249) ARR decreased after initiating DMF (ARR 0–2 years, 0.330[95% CI, 0.266,0.408]; ARR overall, 0.149[95% CI, 0.116,0.190]). Overall, 60% of DMF/DMF and 66% of PBO/DMF patients remained relapse-free; 20% and 17% of patients had 1 relapse, respectively. Walking abilities were maintained throughout the study; the number of patients with EDSS scores ≤3.5 was 413/479(86%) DMF/DMF (179/217[82%] PBO/DMF) at Year 2, and 173/226(77%) DMF/DMF (67/90[74%] PBO/DMF) at Year 10. Seventy-two percent and 73% of DMF/DMF and PBO/DMF patients, respectively, had no 24-week confirmed disability progression over 10 years.

Conclusions

These safety and efficacy data in patients followed for 13 years, support DMF as a long-term option for patients with RMS.