Background

Fingolimod (FGL) is an oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, introduced in Sweden 2011. Already from launch, FGL was included in the Swedish “Immunomodulation and Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology Study” (IMSE) in order to enable long-term surveillance of effectiveness and safety aspects in a large population-based cohort.

Objectives

To assess the relation between Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMS) in patients treated with FGL.

Methods

Swedish MS patients are registered into the nationwide Swedish MS Registry. Demographic data, EDSS and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions Test (EQ-5D), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were collected for FGL patients who agreed to participate in the IMSE 2 study. Spearman rank correlation were used to determine associations between EDSS and PROMS.

Results

From September 2011 until June 2020, 1670 MS patients (68% female) were included in IMSE 2. Mean age at treatment start was 39 years and mean treatment duration in the entire cohort was 44 months (M). Out of 1670 patients, 560 (63% female) had been treated with FGL for at least 60 M. Mean age was 40 years and mean treatment duration 81 M. Significant (p<0.05) correlations was found between EDSS and all PROMs. The strongest correlation was found between the physical component of MSIS-29 for both baseline (r=0.60, n=778) and 60 M (r=0.64, n=109). Also, for both EQ-5D and VAS, Spearman coefficient indicates a moderate correlation for baseline (EQ-5D; r=-0.48, n=744 and VAS; -0.43, n=706) and 60 M (EQ-5D; r=-0.47, n=102 and VAS; -0.48, n=102) respectively. The correlation between EDSS and SDMT and the psychological component of MSIS-29, both indicated a weak correlation for baseline (SDMT; r=-0.28, n=771 and MSIS-29 psychological; r=0.28, n=778). For 60 M the correlations were stronger and indicated a moderate correlation (SDMT; r= -0.42, n=114 and MSIS-29 psychological; r=0.33, n=109).

Conclusions

The observed correlations between EDSS and PROMs in patients treated with FGL indicate a weak correlation with SDMT and the psychological component of MSIS-29. These results highlight that different scales capture different dimensions of the physical and psychological impact of MS from the patient’s perspective and have important functions which should continue to be followed.

Background

Background: Teriflunomid (TFM) is an oral therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), which has been included in the Swedish post-market surveillance study “Immunomodulation and Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology” (IMSE).

Objectives

Objectives: To assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of TFM for patients treated in a real-world setting over time.

Methods

Methods: A large majority of MS patients are registered into the nationwide Swedish Neuro Registry (NeuroReg). The IMSE 4 study obtains descriptive data of adverse events (AEs), Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scale (MSSS), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), European Quality of Life - Five Dimensions Test (EQ-5D) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) from NeuroReg. Effectiveness measures were assessed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and drug survival using the Kaplan-Meier curve.

Results

Results: 609 TFM-treated patients had been included in the IMSE 4 study from March 2014 to June 2020, 70% were female and mean age at treatment start was 46 years. Mean treatment duration was 27 months and 89% of the patients had RRMS. The most common prior treatment was interferon beta or glatiramer acetate (39%) and 17% of the patients were treatment naïve. The overall one- two- and three- year drug survival rates were 73%, 59% and 48% respectively. 307 (50%) patients had discontinued treatment at some point, of which 34% started rituximab treatment (36% had no new treatment registered). The most common reasons for discontinuation were AEs (42%) and lack of effect (40%).

204 patients had been continuously treated with TFM for ≥36 months and significant changes in mean baseline values compared to values at 36 months were noted only for EDSS (2.0 ± 1.6 to 2.3 ± 1.8, n=49). All other clinical measures were stable.

A total of 68 AEs were reported of which 20 events were classified as serious (S). The most common AE category was skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders for both serious and non-serious (NS) AEs (S: 25%, NS: 21%).

Conclusions

Conclusions: NeuroReg proves to function well as a post-marketing drug surveillance platform, providing data regarding drug effectiveness and AEs. Patients starting TMF are older at treatment start than patients initiating most other DMTs, which may explain the lack of significant improvement in most clinical measures and the negative outcome of the EDSS scores. A longer follow-up period is needed to assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of TMF.

Background

Background: Cladribine is a deoxyadenosine analogue prodrug. Cladribine tablets (CT) are administered in two courses, 12 months apart, for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). CT are included in the Swedish post-market surveillance study “Immunomodulation and Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology” (IMSE).

Objectives

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of CT in a real-world setting with focus on patients treated at least 12 months.

Methods

Methods: Descriptive data of Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scale (MSSS), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions Test (EQ-5D), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), relapses and Adverse Events (AEs) is obtained from the nationwide Swedish Neuro Registry (NeuroReg). Effectiveness measures were assessed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and relapse rates were tested using the paired samples T-test.

Results

Results: 85 patients were included in the IMSE 10 study since CT were introduced on the Swedish market in April 2018. 42 patients were treated for at least 12 months. Five AEs were reported since the study start, four were classified as infections and infestations.

25 % of the entire cohort was treated with CT as their first MS drug. 13 % were treated with natalizumab and 12 % with dimethyl fumarate prior to CT. Five AEs were reported since the study start, four were classified as infections and infestations.

Relapse data was available for 27/42 patients in the 12-month cohort. The number of reported relapses decreased significantly from 208.6 per 1,000 patient years before treatment start to 83.6 during treatment. Only three patients in this cohort experienced a relapse during treatment of which two were during the first treatment year.

Significant improvements in mean values at 12 months of treatment compared to baseline were noted for MSSS for the 12-month cohort (n=17). All other tests remained stable but significantly unchanged after one year of treatment.

Lymphocyte levels decreased from a mean of 2.4 x 10⁹/L at treatment start (n=8) to 1.2 x 10⁹/L after 12 months of treatment (n=6) in the 12-month cohort. No patients were below the 0.8 x 10⁹/L limit at 12 months.

Conclusions

Conclusions: CT treatment demonstrates clinical stability in patients treated 12 months. However, continued follow-up is needed to assess the effectiveness and safety of CT over a longer time to assess if these results sustain after the final treatment course has been administered.

Background

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). DMF is included in the Swedish post-market surveillance study “Immunomodulation and Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology” (IMSE).

Objectives

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness and safety of DMF with focus on patients treated at least 36 months in the IMSE study.

Methods

Methods: Descriptive data of Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scale (MSSS), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions Test (EQ-5D), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Adverse Events (AEs) is obtained from the nationwide Swedish Neuro Registry (NeuroReg). Effectiveness measures were assessed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and drug survival using the Kaplan-Meier curve.

Results

Results: 2349 DMF-treated patients were included between March 2014 and June 2020 with an overall drug survival rate of 45%. The main reasons for discontinuation were AEs (50%) and lack of effect (30%). 186 AEs were reported to the Swedish Medical Products Agency, of which 59 were serious. A total of 8 patients have died during DMF treatment or within 6 months of treatment discontinuation.

36 month cohort: 940 patients had continuous treatment for at least 36 months. This cohort had a mean age of 42 years and a mean treatment duration of 56 months. The majority (50%) had switched from interferon or glatiramer acetate, and (24%) were treatment naïve (TN).

Significant improvements in mean values at 36 months of treatment compared to baseline for the 36-month cohort were noted for MSSS, SDMT, MSIS-29 Psychological, EQ-5D and VAS. When TN patients were solely assessed (n=230) improvements were noted for all above mentioned measures as well as MSIS-29 Psychological. The remaining patients in the cohort; treatment experienced patients (n=710) displayed significant improvements only for MSSS, MSIS-29 Psychological and EQ-5D. TN patients had a mean duration from diagnosis to treatment start of 5 months compared to 91 months for the remaining cohort. TN were also younger than the remaining cohort (37 years vs 43 years).

Conclusions

Conclusions: DMF demonstrates clinical improvements in patients treated 36 months, more pronounced in TN patients. However; due to the high discontinuation rate there is an unavoidable selection bias. Continued follow up is needed to assess the effectiveness and safety of DMF over longer time periods in a real world setting.