Author Of 3 Presentations
P0071 - Effect of oral ponesimod on clinical disease activity and MRI-based outcomes in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: Phase 3 OPTIMUM study (ID 1570)
Abstract
Background
Ponesimod (PON), an orally active, highly selective and reversible modulator of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1, reduces circulating lymphocytes by sequestration in lymphoid organs. In the phase-3 OPTIMUM study (NCT02425644), PON showed superior efficacy vs teriflunomide (TER) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).
Objectives
To evaluate prespecified MRI-based endpoints and no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) status in patients with RMS.
Methods
Patients (18-55 years) with RMS (expanded disability status scale scores: 0-5.5) were randomized (1:1) to receive PON 20 mg or TER 14 mg for 108 weeks. MRI endpoints included: percentage change from baseline to week 108 in brain volume (SIENA, Structural Image Evaluation, using Normalization of Atrophy), mean number of new gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 lesions and volume/count of new/enlarging T2-weighted (T2) lesions. NEDA-3 (absence of confirmed relapse, 12-week confirmed disability accumulation, Gd+T1 and new/enlarging T2 lesions on annual MRIs) and NEDA-4 status (NEDA-3 and no average annual brain volume decrease ≥0.4%) were evaluated from baseline to week 108.
Results
985/1133 (86.9%) randomized patients completed the study. MRI findings for PON vs TER from baseline to week 108, respectively, were: least square (LS) mean percent change from baseline in brain volume: −0.91% vs −1.25% (difference: 0.34%, 95% CLs: 0.17;0.50, p<0.0001); LS mean difference (PON−TER) in change from baseline in total T2 lesion load: −399.2 mm3 (95% CLs: −651.5;−146.8, p=0.002); mean number of new/enlarging T2 lesions per year: 1.40 vs 3.16 (rate ratio [RR]: 0.44, 95% CLs: 0.36;0.54, p<0.0001); PON vs TER odds ratio (OR [95% CL]) for absence of new/enlarging T2 lesions: 1.71 (1.30;2.25, p=0.0001); mean number of new Gd+T1 lesions per scan: 0.18 vs 0.43 (RR: 0.42, 95% CLs: 0.31;0.56, p<0.0001); PON vs TER (OR [95% CL]) for absence of new Gd+T1 lesions: 2.18 (1.61;2.95, p<0.0001). At week 108, 28.2% (159/564) PON vs 18.3% (102/558) TER patients (OR: 1.70, 95% CLs: 1.27;2.28, p=0.0004) achieved NEDA-3; 15.0% (79/526) PON vs 8.5% (45/532) TER patients (OR: 1.85, 95% CLs: 1.24;2.76, p=0.0026) achieved NEDA-4. The most common reason for not achieving NEDA-3 or NEDA-4 status was presence of new/enlarging T2 lesions.
Conclusions
PON showed benefit vs TER for all MRI outcomes including brain volume loss and a significantly higher proportion of patients achieved NEDA-3 and NEDA-4 status, supporting the effects observed on clinical endpoints.
P0194 - Cardiac Safety of Ponesimod in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis in the Randomized, Active-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Phase 3 OPTIMUM Study (ID 565)
Abstract
Background
Ponesimod (PON) is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 modulator. Activation of these receptors on cardiomyocytes during treatment initiation cause transient effects on heart rate (HR) and antrioventicular (AV) conduction. The OPTIMUM phase 3 study assessed efficacy, safety, and tolerability of PON and teriflunomide (TER) in relapsing multiple sclerosis.
Objectives
We report on the cardiac safety profile of ponesimod versus teriflunomide in the phase 3 OPTIMUM study (NCT02425644).
Methods
Patients (18-55 years) were randomized 1:1 to PON (20 mg) or TER (14 mg) for 108 weeks. For PON, a gradual 14-day up-titration starting with 2 mg was implemented to address 1st-dose cardiac effects. Cardiac safety was assessed by blood pressure (BP) and 12-lead ECG measurements. Cardiac treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE; defined as CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction [MI], and non-fatal stroke), and TEAEs of special interest (AESIs) are reported.
Results
Of 1131 patients who received treatment (PON: n=565, TER: n=566), baseline mean HR was 70.6 bpm (PON), 70.3 bpm (TER), range 45-126 bmp. Cardiac TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 1 (0.2%) patient on PON (cardiomyopathy) and 2 (0.4%) patients on TER (1 atrial fibrillation, 1 coronary artery insufficiency). No MACE were reported on PON; 3 MACE occurred on TER. HR and rhythm AESIs were reported in 29 (5.1%) PON patients vs. 24 (4.2%) TER patients. Incidence of HR and rhythm AESIs on Day 1 in the PON group (2 mg) was 2.1%, and included bradycardia (HR<50bpm) in 0.7% and 1st degree AV block in 0.5%; vs. 0.4% in TER. Max mean reduction in HR from pre- to post-dose on Day 1 was observed at 2h post-dose for PON at -8.7bpm compared with -1.7bpm for TER. On Day 1, 3 patients on PON had post-dose asymptomatic HR≤40bpm, all had pre-treatment HR<55bpm. On Day 1, new ECG findings of sinus bradycardia was 20.0% in patients at risk for symptomatic bradyarrhythmia, compared to 3.0% (all asymptomatic) in patients who were not at-risk. The up-titration was not associated with clinically significant bradyarrhythmia events; none were serious or leading to discontinuation of treatment, no 2nd degree or higher AV blocks were reported.
Conclusions
In the 2-year OPTIMUM study, PON treatment was not associated with an increased risk for major CV events such as MI, stroke, or CV death compared to TER. The up-titration regimen successfully mitigates 1st-dose effects and supports removing the requirement for 1st-dose cardiac monitoring in patients without risk factors of symptomatic bradycardia.
P0204 - Effect on disability measures and MSFC in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis from the phase 3 ponesimod versus teriflunomide optimum study (ID 1667)
Abstract
Background
OPTIMUM was a multicenter, double-blind, active-comparator phase 3 superiority trial that assessed efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ponesimod 20 mg (PON) vs teriflunomide 14 mg (TER) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The primary endpoint of annualized relapse rate was met demonstrating PON’s superiority vs TER.
Objectives
To assess treatment effect on disability progression using time to worsening of timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test [PASAT-3] , Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and composites of these endpoints.
Methods
OPTIMUM enrolled patients with RMS (EDSS:0-5.5), randomized (1:1) to daily PON or TER for 108 weeks. Change in MS functional composite (MSFC) Z-score (mean of T25FW, 9HPT, PASAT-3 Z-scores), and SDMT from baseline to Week 108 was assessed using Mixed-Effect Model Repeated Measures. Analyses of time to first confirmed (12-week) disability event were conducted post-hoc; disability was defined as 4-point worsening in SDMT, 20% worsening in T25FW or 9HPT, in addition to EDSS (as defined for the secondary endpoint).
Results
Of 1133 patients (PON=567, TER=566), 86.9% completed study. Changes from baseline in overall MSFC Z‑score: 0.02 PON vs −0.039 TER (mean difference, 0.059; p=0.047); for the 3 individual components of MSFC Z-score, mean differences (p-values) were: T25FW, 0.20 sec (p=0.37); 9HPT, –0.93 sec (p<0.0001); PASAT-3, 0.55 number correct (p=0.16). The PON vs TER worsening events up to EOS were, respectively: confirmed 20% worsening in T25FW, 9.2% vs 13.1% (hazard ratio [HR]:0.70; p=0.045); 4-point worsening in SDMT, 22.1% vs 26.4% (HR:0.82; p=0.12)], composite EDSS/SDMT, 26.3% vs 32.7% (HR:0.80; p=0.045)]; composite EDSS/9HPT/T25FW, 18.2% vs 24.0% (HR:0.76; p=0.035); numerical differences in favour of PON in time to confirmed worsening in 9HPT and SDMT assessed individually were not statistically significant.
Conclusions
Measures of worsening of impairment and disability in this exploratory analysis indicated benefits for PON vs TER. Composite endpoints provide more power to statistical assessments owing to greater number of events analyzed, making them particularly useful in RMS trials.