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.

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.

Background

White matter (WM) microstructural changes occur in youth with multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelin oligodendrocyte glyoprotein (MOG)-associated disorders. While diffusion tensor imaging has been extensively used to characterize white matter, this method lacks microstructural and pathological specificity. ‘Fixel Based Analysis’ (FBA) statistically estimates changes in diffusion MRI connectivity that is specific to micro and macro-structure. WM damage that leads to less densely packed axons in a fiber bundle causes a decrease in fibre density (FD). If the number of axons is not reduced but occupies less area, then fibre cross-section (FC) will decrease. Last, if the density of axons within a fibre bundle and the area the bundle occupies are reduced, then fibre density and cross-section (FDC) will decrease.

Objectives

To use whole-brain FBA to measure differences in FD, FC, FDC in youth with demyelinating syndromes compared to healthy controls.

Methods

We evaluated group differences in the FBA metrics between 28 typically developing children (17F; age 15.0±2.6y), 19 children with MS (13F; 16.9±1.1y; disease duration (DD)=0.1-11.7y; expanded disability status scale(EDSS):median=1.5,range=0-4.5), and 11 children with MOG (8F;12.1±2.8y; DD=0.5-6.4y;EDSS:m=1.0,r=0-3). Multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging of the brain was acquired with echo planar imaging on a 3T MRI scanner and was pre-processed to correct for distortions and movement. Whole-brain group FBA was performed on FD, FC and FDC to test differences between groups adjusting for age, sex, total intracranial volume, EDSS and DD (p<0.05, family-wise error (FWE) corrected).

Results

Participants with MS and MOG showed reduced FD, FC and FDC relative to typically developing children (FWE corrected p<0.05). Differences in FD were found within splenium, superior longitudinal fasciculus and optic radiations. MS patients had reduced FDC within the corticospinal tract and cerebellar peduncle compared to MOG patients. In participants with MS and MOG, decreased FD within the brain stem, cerebellar peduncles and corona radiata was associated with increased DD and EDSS.

Conclusions

Our preliminary findings showed that patients with demyelinating disorders display decreased axonal density and fibre bundle size in multiple WM tracts relative to typically developing children, which were related to clinical outcomes (EDSS, DD). These changes were more pronounced in MS compared to MOG participants in selected WM tracts.

Background

Metagenomic sequencing reveals the functional potential of the gut microbiome, and may explain how the gut microbiome influences pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) risk.

Objectives

To examine the gut microbiome functional potential by metagenomic analysis of stool samples from pediatric MS cases and controls using a case-control design.

Methods

Persons ≤21 years old enrolled in the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network who provided a stool sample and were not exposed to antibiotics or corticosteroids 30 days prior were included for study. All MS cases met McDonald criteria, had symptom onset <18 years of age and had either no prior disease-modifying drug (DMD) exposure or were exposed to beta-interferon or glatiramer acetate only. Twenty MS cases were matched to 20 non-affected controls by sex, age (± 3 years), stool consistency (Bristol Stool Scale, BSS) and, when possible, by race. Shotgun metagenomic reads were generated using the Illumina NextSeq platform and assembled using MEGAHIT. Metabolic pathway analysis was used to compare the gut microbiome between cases and controls, as well as cases by DMD status (DMD naïve vs DMD exposed MS cases vs controls). Gene ontology classifications were used to assess α-diversity and differential abundance analyses (based on the negative binomial distribution) reported as age-adjusted log-fold change (LFC) in relative abundance, 95% confidence intervals (CI), and false discovery rate adjusted p-values.

Results

The MS cases were aged 13.6 mean years at symptom onset. On average, MS cases and controls were 16.1 and 15.4 years old at the time of stool collection and 80% of each group were girls. MS cases and controls were similar for body mass index (median: 22.8 and 21.0, respectively), stool consistency (BSS types 1-2: n=4, types 3-5: n=16, for both MS and controls) and race (Caucasian: 11 and 9, respectively). Eight MS cases were DMD naïve. Richness of gene ontology classifications did not differ by disease status or DMD status (all p>0.4). However, differential analysis of metabolic pathways indicated that the relative abundance of tryptophan degradation (via the kynurenine pathway; LFC 13; 95%CI: 8–19; p<0.0005) and cresol degradation (LFC 19; 95%CI: 13–25; p<0.0001) pathways were enriched for MS cases vs controls. Differences by DMD status were also observed, e.g., choline biosynthesis was enriched in DMD exposed vs naïve MS cases (LFC 21; 95%CI: 12–29; p<0.0001).

Conclusions

We observed differences in the functional potential of the gut microbiome of young individuals with MS relative to controls at various metabolic pathways, including enrichment of pathways related to tryptophan and metabolism of industrial chemicals. DMD exposure affected findings, with enrichment of pathways involved in promoting CNS remyelination (e.g., choline).

Background

Results of B-cell depleting therapies have underscored important antibody-independent functions of B cells in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) is a key down-stream signaling molecule of the B cell receptor, and BTK inhibitors (BTKi) have been used for treating various B-cell malignancies. BTKi are now being pursued as a ‘next generation’ non-depleting approach to B-cell targeting in MS. However, the contributions of BTK to MS-relevant functional B-cell responses, and the impact of BTKi on such responses, remain largely unknown.

Objectives

We would like to assess the impact of BTK inhibition on MS implicated B-cell functions and explore underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We applied a series of functional assays and RNA sequencing to human B cells, isolated from peripheral blood of healthy individuals or MS patients, as well as from human tonsils, to study influence of BTKi on B-cell survival, activation, proliferation, antibody production, antigen presenting functions, cytokine production and metabolism.

Results

As expected, BTKi strongly decreased B-cell activation with minimal effects on B cell survival. BTKi also significantly limited the induction of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86) expression on activated B cells, which in turn resulted in a decreased capacity of the B cells to support both polyclonal as well as antigen-specific T-cell activation. Interestingly, BTKi treatment preferentially reduced pro-inflammatory B-cell cytokine (GM-CSF, TNFα and IL-6) secretion with only marginal influence on B-cell IL-10 production, resulting in a decreased capacity of the B cells to promote myeloid cell pro-inflammatory responses. Unbiased transcriptomic analysis of either vehicle- or BTKi-treated B cells suggested that BTKi could limit metabolism-related pathways, and subsequent seahorse analyzer experiments confirmed that BTKi decreased B-cell mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis. Metabolic manipulation further revealed that the level of mitochondrial respiration could control the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory B cell responses.

Conclusions

BTKi preferentially limits pro-inflammatory B-cell responses that are implicated in MS pathophysiology. Our study also reveals a fundamental role for metabolism in regulating B-cell functions, and points to a novel therapeutic strategy targeting the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of B cells through modulation of their energy-utilization pathways.

Background

We have limited understanding of the risks and impact of COVID-19 in neuroinflammatory diseases (NID) of the central nervous system, particularly among patients receiving disease modifying therapies (DMTs).

Objectives

To report initial results of a planned multi-center year-long prospective study examining the risk and impact of COVID-19 among persons with NID.

Methods

In April 2020, we deployed online questionnaires to individuals in their home environment to assess the prevalence and potential risk factors of COVID-19 symptoms in persons with and without NID.

Results

Our cohort included 1,115 participants (630 NID, 98% MS; 485 reference) as of April 30, 2020. 202 (18%) participants, residing in areas with high COVID-19 case prevalence, met the April 2020 CDC symptom criteria for suspected COVID-19, but only 4% of all participants received testing given testing shortages. Among all participants, those with suspected COVID-19 were younger, more racially diverse, and reported more depression and liver disease. Persons with NID had the same rate of suspected COVID-19 as the reference group. Early changes in disease management included telemedicine visits in 21% and treatment changes in 9% of persons with NID. After adjusting for potential confounders, increasing neurological disability was associated with a greater likelihood of suspected COVID-19 (OR_adj=1.45, 1.17-1.84).

Conclusions

Our study of real-time, patient-reported experience during the COVID-19 pandemic complements physician-reported MS case registries that capture an excess of severe cases. Overall, persons with NID seem to have a risk of suspected COVID-19 similar to the reference population.

Background

Siponimod significantly reduced the risk of 3-/6-month confirmed disability progression (3m/6mCDP) versus placebo by 21% and 26%, respectively in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), during the core part of the EXPAND study. At the end of EXPAND-Core, patients were offered a switch to open-label siponimod in the ongoing EXPAND-Extension allowing follow-up for up to an additional 7 years; therefore, a long-term comparison between siponimod and placebo was not possible and a modeling for the placebo long-term trajectory was proposed using different statistical methodology.

Objectives

To estimate the long-term effect of siponimod versus placebo by modeling placebo treatment corrected for switch at the end of EXPAND-Core.

Methods

In the EXPAND-Extension part, 6mCDP was analyzed to assess disability. Time to 6mCDP to account for the switch to siponimod in placebo-treated patients was modeled by 3 methods: 1) Rank Preserving Structural Failure Time (RPSFT) model that uses the actual time to 6mCDP for switchers to compute a hypothetical time to 6mCDP as if they had never switched; 2) simulating the hypothetical time from the switch to 6mCDP based on core part data as if patients had never switched (Two-stage method); and 3) a parametrical model (Weibull distribution) to extrapolate a placebo survival curve.

Results

As of 6 April 2019, 878 patients (siponimod, n=593; placebo-siponimod switch, n=285) were still ongoing in the EXPAND-Extension. All 3 methods confirmed the long-term effect of siponimod versus placebo in the EXPAND population. The RPSFT model seems to provide the more accurate estimate for time to 6mCDP (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.69 [0.53; 0.90]) vs the Two-stage (0.76 [0.64; 0.92]) and Weibull modeling methods (0.58 [0.49; 0.67]). The RPSFT results were indicative of a persistent treatment effect over 5 years with a ~50–60% increase in the time to 6mCDP in siponimod versus placebo-corrected switch (median time to 6mCDP: 42.5 months for placebo-corrected switch as opposed to 51.7 months for uncorrected placebo; median not reached with siponimod). Accuracy of RPSFT is supported by simulations conducted under conditions similar to the EXPAND study, which included waning and increasing treatment effects, that found very low difference between the true hazard ratio and the hazard ratio obtained with RPSFT.

Conclusions

The results support the reliability of RPSFT to model a virtual placebo arm in the long-term in a SPMS population. RPSFT results confirmed a long-term benefit of siponimod over placebo with a preserved hazard ratio on 6mCDP and ~50‒60% prolongation of time to 6mCDP.

Background

Several studies showed prognostic value of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). For the first time, we explored the association of sNfL and subclinical disease activity using data from the APLIOS trial.

Objectives

To evaluate the potential of sNfL as a patient-level biomarker for monitoring subclinical disease activity in RMS patients.

Methods

In the APLIOS open-label study of ofatumumab 20 mg s.c in RMS (n=284), frequent (14 time points over 12 weeks) sNfL measurements were performed (Siemens sNfL RUO assay on ADVIA Centaur®). MRI scans were done every 4 weeks. The potential monitoring value of sNfL was examined in 3 ways: 1) Age-adjusted geometric mean sNfL over time was estimated in 3 subgroups: patients who had on-study clinical relapses (r⁺), patients with presence of gadolinium-enhancing T1 (GdT1) lesions at or post-baseline but no clinical relapses (GdT1⁺r⁻) and patients with neither lesions nor clinical relapses (GdT1⁻r⁻); 2) As high-frequency sampling permitted an estimation of daily sNfL levels, every report of GdT1 lesion was linked to the estimated sNfL level at the time of the scan (using a recurrent-events analysis); and 3) Patient-level predictions of GdT1 lesion were done using the last sNfL value before the corresponding scan and compared with MRI-based predictions (in terms of across-scan average area under the receiver operating characteristics curve [AUC]).

Results

Over the study course, the age-adjusted geometric mean sNfL levels in the GdT1⁻r⁻group (n=153) were low compared to other two subgroups, with 95% CIs below those of the r⁺ (n=15) and GdT1⁺r^– (n=116) groups. After adjusting for baseline age and MRI covariates, a between-patient difference of 50% higher sNfL at the time of GdT1 scan was associated with a 29% higher risk of persistent GdT1 lesion (p<0.0001). At the individual patient level, the predictive power of the last sNfL value (AUC=0.76) before scan for presence of GdT1 lesion was similar to that of baseline GdT1-count (AUC=0.77).

Conclusions

This study suggests sNfL may have utility for monitoring of subclinical disease activity in RMS patients as shown by its predictive value of GdT1 lesion activity. Assessments of sNfL could complement regular MRIs, and may provide an alternative in cases where standard MRI monitoring is infeasible.

Background

The central vein sign (CVS) is a proposed MRI diagnostic biomarker for multiple sclerosis (MS). Use of gadolinium (Gd) in the CVS literature has been inconsistent, and it is unknown whether Gd improves detection of CVS when using FLAIR*.

Objectives

To determine if, and to what extent, gadolinium injection improves detection of CVS lesions when using FLAIR* imaging.

Methods

A cross-sectional multicenter study recruited adults clinically and/or radiologically suspected of having MS. High-isotropic-resolution, T2*-weighted segmented echo-planar imaging (T2*-EPI) was acquired pre- and post-injection of Gd-based contrast agent at 3T; pre-Gd 3D FLAIR images were also acquired. T2*-EPI and FLAIR images were processed on the QMENTA platform to generate FLAIR* images. FLAIR* pre-Gd and post-Gd scans from this substudy of 30 patients at 5 sites were analyzed. FLAIR images were used to create T2 lesion masks. Subsequently, FLAIR* images were evaluated in a random order. Lesions were categorized as CVS+, CVS-, or excluded based on the North American Imaging in MS (NAIMS) Criteria by two trained raters blinded to clinical data and Gd use. The proportion of CVS+ lesions was calculated for each scan, and differences in CVS detection based on Gd use were assessed by a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Diagnostic performance was compared against McDonald 2017 Criteria.

Results

The mean participant age was 45 years (SD: 12); 23 (77%) were women. 14 (47%) met McDonald 2017 Criteria for MS, while 16 (53%) did not (“non-MS”). A total of 487 CVS+ lesions and 976 CVS- lesions were evaluated. The percentage of CVS+ lesions post-Gd in the MS group (median 67% [IQR 30%]) was higher than pre-Gd (41% [47%], p<0.001). There was no apparent difference in percentage of CVS+ lesion in the non-MS group (post-Gd: 10% [23%]; pre-Gd: 5% [29%]; p=0.1). In the MS group, 12/14 (86%) had ≥40% CVS+ lesions on post-Gd imaging, whereas only 8/14 (57%) exceeded that threshold on pre-Gd imaging. When evaluating CVS performance using the 40% CVS+ threshold, the sensitivity and specificity of the CVS post-Gd for MS were 86% and 81%, respectively, compared to 54% and 86% pre-Gd.

Conclusions

The detection of the CVS using FLAIR* at 3T is improved when Gd is used. Based on these results, a multicenter prospective CVS diagnostic study, sponsored by NINDS and NAIMS, will use Gd in the study protocol. Future clinical use of the CVS should balance the increased costs and potential risks of Gd use with the risks of misdiagnosis due to missing CVS on non-contrast imaging.

Background

Serum markers which reflect MS disease activity could help personalize MS therapeutics. Longitudinal samples from patients undergoing autologous haematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for aggressive MS represent a valuable cohort to search for such biomarkers, as these patients had very active disease prior to treatment followed by durable supression of inflammatory disease activity after treatment.

Objectives

To investigate changes in candidate serum proteins in patients with active MS compared to controls as well as before and after HSCT in relation to clinical and MRI outcomes.

Methods

97 proteins of interest were identified including established markers of inflammation and neurodegeneration. Levels were quantified using an in-house antibody colocalization microarray in 24 MS patients with aggressive relapsing MS at baseline compared to 10 controls. Pre-post HSCT changes were analyzed over 10 timepoints pre and up to 36 months post HSCT. We used principal componant analysis for data reduction prior to correlation as well as mixed effects models of individual proteins to compare changes in levels to clinical and MRI covariates of interest (age, EDSS score, relapses, sustained progression, lesional and volumetric MRI measures).

Results

Levels of 19 proteins differed between MS patients at baseline and controls and 17 proteins differed comparing baseline and 12-months post HSCT (simple t tests, p<0.1); we focused on the levels of these proteins for subsequent analyses. 7 proteins were identified in both comparisons including amphiregulin, cathepsin, CRP, GRO, HAI-1 and leptin, which may indicate normalization post HSCT. 8/24 patients developed sustained EDSS progression in the absence of ongoing relapses post HSCT; using mixed effects models, of the 17 candidate proteins, the longitudinal trajectory of CRP levels differed in patients who developed sustained progression compared to those who did not (B=-0.003, p=0.045). Component analysis was used to summarize clusters of proteins into a single value based on internal correlation/discordance. At baseline, one cluster of proteins (CRP, KLK14, PAI-1, IGFBP-7, PDGF) correlated with preceding rapid progression from diagnosis to EDSS 6 (p=0.011, r=0.80) and EDSS worsening in the preceding 24 months (p=0.047, r=0.46). A different cluster of proteins (HAI-1, amhiregulin, FAS, capthespsin B, e-cadherin, GFAP) correlated with the pretreatment rate of brain atrophy. Comparing pre-post changes, one cluster correlated with rate of brain atrophy in the first year post HSCT (p=0.024, r=0.059).

Conclusions

This exploratory analysis of longitudinal serum biomarkers changes pre and post HSCT provides hypothesis generating observations worthy of future investigation.

Background

Intrathecal production of immunoglobulin (Ig) and the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)–specific oligoclonal bands (OCBs) are hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS) that persist throughout the disease course and treatment.

Objectives

To describe baseline (BL) correlations of CSF IgM and IgG production with CSF biomarkers and to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of ocrelizumab (OCR) treatment on these parameters in patients with relapsing MS (RMS) from the Ocrelizumab Biomarker Outcome Evaluation (OBOE) study (NCT02688985).

Methods

Seventy-nine of 100 total patients with RMS had available BL CSF samples for assessment of IgG OCBs, IgG and IgM (measured at University Medical Center Göttingen), with demographic, MRI and clinical parameters representative of the total RMS population. CSF samples at either 12 (n=22), 24 (n=24) or 52 (n=17) weeks postdose and from a 12-week reference arm (no OCR; n=16) were assessed for longitudinal changes.

Results

Median (interquartile range [IQR]) CSF levels at BL were as follows: IgG index, 0.79 (0.63–1.28); IgM index, 0.19 (0.11–0.33); CD3⁺ T cell number, 2.52 (0.80–5.61) cells/µL; CXCL13, 9.89 (3.91–31.50) pg/mL; CCL19, 47.95 (31.09–70.86) pg/mL; neurofilament light chain (NfL) 1280.0 (828.1–2968.9) pg/mL. At BL, IgG index and IgM index correlated moderately with levels of B cells (r=0.65, r=0.4 respectively), T cells (r=0.54, r=0.3 respectively) and CXCL13 (r=0.58, r=0.43 respectively), but not CCL19 or NfL. IgG index tended to decrease with OCR treatment and was significantly reduced by 52 weeks (n=17/79; median [IQR] change from BL −9.5% [−20.4% to −0.1%]; p<0.02) compared with stable levels in the reference arm. While IgG OCBs were detected at BL in all patients, IgG OCBs tended to decrease with OCR treatment, with three of 17 patients having no detectable IgG OCBs at 52 weeks. Reductions in IgM index were not observed with OCR treatment.

Conclusions

Baseline CSF levels of B cells, T cells and CXCL13 correlated with IgG index and to a lesser degree IgM index in patients with RMS from the OBOE study. Significant reductions were observed in IgG index with OCR treatment, along with a trend toward reduced OCBs, with three patients showing no detectable OCBs. These data suggest that OCR impacts CSF Ig production, a hallmark of MS not previously thought to be affected by B-cell depletion therapy. These 1-year observations need to be confirmed with longer-term data and correlated with clinical response.

Background

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a biomarker of neuroaxonal injury in multiple sclerosis (MS). Thalamic atrophy occurs early and may be a sensitive marker of overall brain damage. Ocrelizumab (OCR) reduced brain atrophy and NfL in patients with relapsing MS (RMS) and those with primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Objectives

To examine the independent impact of OCR and baseline (BL) NfL on thalamic volume (TV) and clinical progression in patients with PPMS and RMS, including those with RMS without acute BL activity (i.e. no gadolinium–enhancing [Gd+] lesions or relapse in the last 3 months).

Methods

Patients were from OPERA I/II (RMS, n=1,421) and ORATORIO (PPMS, n=596). Thalamic atrophy was calculated as annualized percentage TV change (PTVC) from Wk 24 to the end of controlled treatment (ORATORIO, Wk 120; OPERA I/II, Wk 96). OCR treatment (vs IFNβ-1a [RMS] or placebo [PPMS]) and log-transformed BL NfL were examined for associations with PTVC (linear regression) and 24-week confirmed disability progression (Cox regression) adjusting for BL demographic and disease characteristics.

Results

In patients with PPMS and RMS, OCR treatment (PTVC: +0.47% and +0.33%, respectively) and lower BL NfL (+0.20% and +0.33% per 2-fold lower NfL) independently associated with a smaller TV reduction (all p<0.005). Adjusting for BL NfL level, Gd+ lesion count, T2 lesion volume and BL disability, OCR still reduced disability progression on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (PPMS, hazard ratio [HR]=0.73; RMS, HR=0.65; both p<0.05]), 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) (PPMS, HR=0.53, p=0.002; RMS, HR=0.52, p=0.059), Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) (PPMS, HR=0.79, p=0.063), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (RMS, HR=0.54, p=0.002) and time to EDSS 6 (RMS, HR=0.42, p=0.009). In patients with PPMS, higher BL NfL was associated with worsening on 9HPT (HR=1.34 per 2-fold higher NfL), T25FW (HR=1.19) and time to EDSS 7 (HR=1.78) (all p<0.05). In patients with RMS without acute BL activity, higher BL NfL was associated with EDSS worsening (HR=1.49), progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) (HR=1.61), 9HPT (HR=2.1) and time to EDSS 6 (HR=2.24) (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

Ocrelizumab treatment remained associated with reduced thalamic atrophy and clinical progression after adjusting for baseline NfL and other factors. Higher BL NfL was associated with increased rates of thalamic atrophy and clinical progression in patients with PPMS and those with RMS without acute disease activity.

Background

Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a biomarker of neuroaxonal injury associated with acute disease activity and may be prognostic for disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Ocrelizumab (OCR) is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody indicated for relapsing MS (RMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Objectives

To assess the impact of OCR on blood NfL distribution in patients with RMS from the OPERA I and II trials and those with PPMS from ORATORIO.

Methods

Pretreatment and posttreatment NfL levels (measured using the SiMOA assay) with OCR vs interferon β-1a (OPERA I and II; n=1,421) or placebo (ORATORIO; n=596) were compared using geometric mean (GM) and GM ratios (GMR). Patients were stratified by presence/absence of acute disease activity at baseline (BL) (T1 gadolinium [Gd]-enhancing lesions and/or relapse in prior 3 months for RMS; T1 Gd-enhancing lesions for PPMS). Age-adjusted NfL distributions (using a linear model for log-NfL and age derived from a healthy donor [HD] cohort) at BL and after OCR were compared with HD using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.

Results

Significant reductions in NfL were observed 3 months after OCR initiation (RMS, GMR=0.80; PPMS, GMR=0.89) and sustained through the end of controlled treatment (RMS [96 weeks], GMR=0.56; PPMS [120 weeks], GMR=0.81; all p<0.0001). Age-adjusted BL serum NfL was elevated in patients with RMS disease activity (GM [95% CI]=12.7 [11.9–13.6] pg/mL) vs those without (5.5 [5.3–5.7] pg/mL) and HD (4.1 [3.9–4.4] pg/mL; all p<0.0001). In OCR-treated patients with RMS, GM [95% CI] serum NfL levels after 96 weeks (with activity at BL, 4.4 [4.2–4.6] pg/mL; without activity at BL, 4.1 [4.0–4.3] pg/mL) were comparable to HD (4.1 [3.9–4.4] pg/mL; all p>0.1). Age-adjusted BL plasma NfL was also elevated in PPMS patients with disease activity (GM [95% CI]=8.7 [7.5–10.1] pg/mL) vs those without (4.9 [4.6–5.2] pg/mL) and HD (3.1 [2.9–3.3] pg/mL; all p<0.0001). In OCR-treated patients with PPMS, GM [95% CI] plasma NfL levels after 120 weeks (with activity at BL, 4.6 [4.1–5.1] pg/mL; without activity at BL, 4.2 [4.0–4.4] pg/mL) were reduced from BL (all p<0.005) but remained elevated vs HD (all p<0.001).

Conclusions

NfL is highly elevated in patients with acute MS disease activity, and more subtle elevations are observed in RMS and PPMS patients without detectable disease activity. Ocrelizumab significantly reduces NfL in RMS and PPMS patients with and without detectable disease activity.

Background

Studies examining the role of the microbiota in multiple sclerosis (MS) often focus on the gut bacteria; few have considered a potential role of gut mycobiota. Methods for evaluating gut mycobiota are lacking and require systematic evaluation of sequencing protocols, reference databases, and bioinformatics pipelines to properly investigate possible gut mycobiome influences on MS.

Objectives

We set out to evaluate the performance of different sequencing conditions and analytical approaches for characterizing the gut mycobiome in a cohort of healthy individuals and cases with monophasic acquired demyelinating syndrome (mono ADS) or pediatric-onset MS.

Methods

We first assessed a mock-community control pool of known, staggered quantities of 19 defined fungal organisms. We then assessed 201 stool samples obtained from our cohort of 52 healthy individuals, 49 individuals with mono ADS, and 46 participants with pediatric-onset MS. The fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 region was sequenced using the Illumina® MiSeq platform. Varying concentrations of PhiX Control v3 Library spike-in were tested to address low-complexity amplicon sequencing. Generated sequences were characterized by the UNITE database—a curated collection of eukaryotic ITS sequences—in conjunction with three distinct fungal sequence analysis pipelines: LotuS, mothur, and PIPITS.

Results

Taxa identified in our mock-community differed across sequencing conditions but were similar between technical replicates. LotuS correctly classified 7 taxa at species-level, 7 taxa at genus-level, whereas 5 remained unclassified. Mothur correctly identified 5 species-level taxa, 11 genus-level taxa, whereas 3 remained unclassified. Lastly, PIPITS correctly identified only 3 species-level taxa, 12 genus-level, while 4 remained unclassified. We successfully generated sequence data for 112 of 147 (76%) individuals (70 females; 42 males). The mean age at stool sample collection was 17.3 (SD 5.1) years. Of the tested sequencing conditions, a spike-in of 50% PhiX produced the highest-quality reads.

Conclusions

The LotuS pipeline best identified fungal taxa in our mock-community, with optimal resolution to species level. Sequencing read quality was optimal when 50% PhiX was used for sequencing ITS2 amplicon libraries of stool samples. Establishment of this validated sequencing pipeline, confirmed using a mock-community with known fungal identities, will aid characterization of gut mycobiomes for our cohort of individuals with/without pediatric-onset MS.

Background

Ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with a monthly 20 mg s.c. dosing regimen, demonstrated superior efficacy vs teriflunomide and a favorable safety profile in the Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) trials.

Objectives

To evaluate the benefit-risk profile of ofatumumab treatment in patients with early RMS in the Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II trials.

Methods

Key efficacy and safety outcomes were assessed in the subgroup of 615 newly diagnosed (within 3 years before screening), treatment-naïve (no prior disease-modifying therapy [DMT] use) patients who received ofatumumab or teriflunomide as a first-line therapy in ASCLEPIOS I/II trials (32.7% of the total 1882 patients).

Results

Baseline characteristics of the newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve subgroup were typical of early MS patients (median age and MS duration since diagnosis (years) were 36 and 0.35, respectively). Compared to patients on teriflunomide, ofatumumab reduced ARR by 50.3% (0.09 vs 0.18; p<0.001), 3mCDW risk by 38% (10.1% vs 12.8%; p=0.065), 6mCDW risk by 46% (5.9% vs 10.4%; p=0.044), gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesions/scan by 95.4% (0.02 vs 0.39: p<0.001), and new/enlarging T2 lesions/year by 82.0% (0.86 vs 4.78, p<0.001). Treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) occurred in 84.7% ofatumumab vs 86.0% teriflunomide-treated patients; serious AEs were reported in 7.0% and 5.3%, respectively. No cases of malignancies were reported in this newly diagnosed subgroup, randomized to either drug. Infection rates were comparable between ofatumumab (56.1%) and teriflunomide (56.5%); serious infections rates were 1.9% and 0.7%, respectively, and no opportunistic infections were reported. Systemic injection reactions were only imbalanced between ofatumumab and teriflunomide (with placebo injections) at the first injection given at the study site, and 99.8% of injection reactions were mild-to-moderate in this subgroup; after the 4^th injection, >70% RMS patients self-injected at home. Compliance of all patients with ofatumumab was high (98.8%).

Conclusions

Ofatumumab is the first high efficacy DMT that can be self-administered at home, as demonstrated in Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II trials. Ofatumumab showed superior efficacy vs teriflunomide in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients with low absolute relapse rates, very low MRI lesion activity and prolonged time to disability worsening, consistent with the overall study population.

Background

Preventing multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression is critical in preserving function and quality of life. Fenebrutinib is a potent, highly selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor with a dual mechanism of action. Fenebrutinib targets acute and chronic aspects of MS by decreasing B-cell activation and limiting myeloid proinflammatory responses. This profile and studies of fenebrutinib in patients with other inflammatory diseases suggest a potentially favorable benefit-risk ratio, although there are no studies yet in patients with MS.

Objectives

To describe the unique design aspects of the Phase III fenebrutinib clinical trial program as they relate to understanding disease progression across the MS spectrum.

Methods

We developed a Phase III program that will assess disease progression in two identical clinical trials in relapsing MS (RMS) and one trial in primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Results

To understand the effects of fenebrutinib on disease progression, all three trials include 12-week composite Confirmed Disability Progression (cCDP12) as a primary endpoint; the RMS trials also include annualized relapse rate as a co-primary endpoint. The cCDP12 requires at least one of the following: (1) an increase in Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) score of ≥1.0 point from a baseline (BL) score of ≤5.5 points, or a ≥0.5 point increase from a BL score of >5.5 points; (2) a 20% increase from BL in time to complete the 9-Hole Peg Test; (3) a 20% increase from BL in the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test. The cCDP12 is a more sensitive assessment of disability than the EDSS, especially at early disease stages, as it provides a quantitative assessment of upper limb function. Comparator arms will include active disease-modifying treatments with known effects on disability progression (PPMS=ocrelizumab; RMS=teriflunomide). Treatment assignments will be 1:1, with estimated enrollment of 734 patients in each of the RMS trials and 946 in the PPMS trial. Study durations will be event driven, with the primary analysis occurring after a prespecified number of cCDP12 events (≥96 or ≥120 weeks in the RMS and PPMS trials, respectively).

Conclusions

Fenebrutinib will be investigated in RMS and PPMS and may offer a unique approach to slowing disease progression in MS. Furthermore, the use of the cCDP12 as a primary endpoint may provide a clearer, more complete picture of disability progression or improvement than the EDSS alone.

Background

FLUENT investigated immune cell subset changes in the innate and adaptive immune systems during fingolimod therapy, and their associations with efficacy and safety outcomes.

Objectives

To report changes in immune cell profile, efficacy and safety of fingolimod 0.5 mg/day in adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).

Methods

In FLUENT (NCT03257358), a prospective, 12 month, phase 4, multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label study, patients were stratified as fingolimod naive (Cohort 1) or previously treated with fingolimod 0.5 mg/day continuously for ≥2 years (Cohort 2). Primary outcome was change from Baseline to Month 12 in immune cell subsets. Secondary outcomes included Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS), anti-John Cunningham virus (anti-JCV) antibody status, serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentration, and adverse events (AEs) incidence. Data were analyzed from all patients completing Month 12 follow-up.

Results

165 patients enrolled in Cohort 1; 217 in Cohort 2. Proportionally more patients in Cohort 1 than Cohort 2 relapsed in the year before baseline. At Baseline, patients in Cohort 1 had proportionally more naive and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and memory B cells, and proportionally fewer effector memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and regulatory B cells, than those in Cohort 2. At Month 12, between-cohort differences in the proportions of these lymphocyte types/subtypes were much reduced or negligible. Levels were essentially unchanged in Cohort 2, indicating reductions in naive T cells and increases in effector memory T cells and regulatory B cells in Cohort 1. Mean baseline PDDS scores were low (Cohort 1, 1.7; Cohort 2, 1.8), and changed little by Month 12. Median change from Baseline in anti-JCV antibody index was small in both cohorts. Proportions of patients with positive JCV serology remained stable at Month 12 (61% and 67% in Cohorts 1 and 2 vs 57% and 65% at Baseline). Mean serum NfL level was higher in Cohort 1 than Cohort 2 at Baseline (12.2 vs 9.6 pg/mL); levels were similar at Month 12 (8.7 vs 9.8 pg/mL), having reduced substantially in Cohort 1. Proportionally more patients in Cohort 1 than in Cohort 2 had treatment-emergent AEs (54.6% vs 44.2%), and discontinued study treatment (12.3% vs 5.5%); 5.5% of patients in each cohort reported serious AEs.

Conclusions

These data expand our knowledge of changes in immune cell profiles over time in patients with RMS treated with fingolimod in the short or long term.

Background

Ozanimod, an oral sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 and 5 modulator, is approved in the US and EU for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS).

Objectives

To characterize the long-term safety and efficacy of ozanimod in participants with RMS in an ongoing open-label extension (OLE) trial.

Methods

Participants with RMS who completed a phase 1, 2, or 3 ozanimod clinical trial were eligible to enroll in DAYBREAK (NCT02576717), where they received ozanimod 0.92 mg/d (equivalent to ozanimod HCl 1 mg). The primary objective was to evaluate safety in the overall population; treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) were monitored. Efficacy was evaluated with annualized relapse rate (ARR), calculated via negative binomial regression and pooled for all parent-trial treatment groups. Number of new/enlarging T2 and gadolinium-enhancing (GdE) MRI brain lesions were reported for the subset of participants who entered the OLE from an active-controlled phase 3 trial.

Results

In total, 2639 participants completed the parent trials; this interim analysis (data cut 20 December 2019) included 2494 participants with mean (range) ozanimod exposure of 35.4 (0.03–50.2) months in the OLE. Adjusted ARR in the OLE was 0.112 (95% confidence interval, 0.093‒0.135). At months 24 and 36, 79% and 75% of participants, respectively, were relapse free in the OLE. Three- and 6-month confirmed disability progression was observed in 10.8% and 8.6% of participants in the OLE, respectively. Mean number of new/enlarging T2 lesions per scan at 24 months was similar, regardless of parent-trial treatment group (range, 1.57–1.90), as were mean number of GdE lesions at month 24 (range, 0.2 ‒0.4). In the OLE, 2039 participants (81.8%) had any TEAE, 236 (9.5%) had a serious TEAE (SAE), and 56 (2.2%) discontinued due to a TEAE. Similar rates of TEAEs and SAEs occurred when assessed by parent-trial treatment group. The most common TEAEs were nasopharyngitis (17.9%), headache (14%), upper respiratory tract infection (9.9%), and lymphopenia (9.6%). TEAEs were generally similar to parent trial observations. There were no serious opportunistic infections. Exposure-adjusted incidence rates of TEAEs and SAEs have decreased over time.

Conclusions

In DAYBREAK, ozanimod was associated with low ARR and low new/enlarging T2 and GdE lesion counts over time. Most participants were relapse free and did not experience disability progression. Ozanimod was generally well tolerated and no new safety concerns emerged with long-term use.

Background

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a necessary risk factor for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) [Abrahamyan S et al. JNNP 2020; Pakpoor J et al. Mult Scler 2012]. Early experience with autologous EBV-specific T-cell adoptive immunotherapy proved safe and may offer clinical benefit [Pender MP et al. JCI Insight 2018].

Objectives

This Phase I study evaluated the safety and potential efficacy of off-the-shelf, allogeneic EBV-targeted T-cell therapy (ATA188) in adults with progressive forms of MS (NCT03283826).

Methods

In part 1, four cohorts received escalating doses of ATA188 to determine the recommended part 2 dose (RP2D). Patients (pts) were followed for 1-year and given the option to participate in a 4-year open label extension (OLE) at the RP2D (cohort 3 dose). In addition to safety, sustained disability improvement (SDI) was assessed, defined as improvement in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) or Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) at ≥2 consecutive time points [Pender MP et al. EAN 2020; LB130]. Other measures evaluated include Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), 12-item MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12), MS Impact Scale-29 (physical; MSIS-29), and whole brain volume (via magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). As of August 2020, we expect 12-month (m) data for all 4 cohorts, which marks the end of the dose finding portion of this study, will be available for presentation.

Results

As of April 2020, 25 pts had received ≥1 dose of ATA188. No grade >3 events, dose-limiting toxicities, cytokine release syndrome, graft vs host disease, or infusion reactions were observed. Two treatment-emergent serious adverse events were reported: muscle spasticity (grade 2; not treatment related) and MS relapse (grade 3; possibly treatment related). Efficacy endpoints were assessed in cohorts 1–4 (n=24) at 6m and in cohorts 1–3 (n=17) at 12m. Six pts met SDI criteria at 6m and 5 pts met it at 12m, which was driven by EDSS in all but 2 pts at both 6 and 12m. At both timepoints, a higher proportion of pts showed SDI with increasing dose. In cohorts 1–3, all pts with SDI at 6m maintained it through 12m. Pts with SDI (vs those without) tended to have greater improvements in FSS, MSWS-12, and MSIS-29 (physical) scores, as well as less reduction in whole brain volume on MRI, from baseline to 12m. As of June 2020, OLE data from the 15m timepoint were available for 4 pts; 3 had SDI at 6m and 12m which was maintained at 15m.

Conclusions

Preliminary data indicate ATA188 is well tolerated. A higher proportion of pts showed sustained disability improvement (SDI) with increasing dose. Pts who achieved SDI at any timepoint maintained it at all future timepoints and tended to show improvements in fatigue, physical function, and MRI whole brain volume at 12m. Based on these data, part 2 of the study (randomized placebo-controlled portion) has been initiated using the cohort 3 dose.

Background

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a necessary risk factor for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) [Abrahamyan S et al. JNNP 2020; Pakpoor J, et al. Mult Scler 2012]. ATA188 – an off-the-shelf, allogeneic EBV-targeted T-cell immunotherapy – is being evaluated in a two-part Phase I, multicenter study in adults with progressive forms of MS (PMS; NCT03283826). Part 1 of the study (open-label, single-arm sequential dose escalation) indicates ATA188 is well tolerated, with a higher proportion of patients (pts) showing sustained disability improvement with increasing dose [Pender MP et al. EAN 2020]. These data need to be confirmed in a well-designed randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (DBPCS).

Objectives

Part 2 is a DBPCS designed to further characterize ATA188 safety/tolerability, product kinetics, as well as to assess the impact of treatment on clinical endpoints and biological markers of MS compared to placebo.

Methods

This trial will utilize an adaptive study design. Potential adaptations include considerations in dose, sample size, and endpoints.

Results

In this DBPCS, 36 pts will be randomized to receive ATA188 or placebo; up to 36 additional pts (72 total) may be added if needed. Based on part 1 results, the first 18 pts in part 2 will be randomized to receive ATA188 Cohort 3 dose (2.0x10⁷cells) or placebo. Different doses of ATA188 may be explored in additional pts. In year 1, pts will receive two treatment cycles, ATA188 or placebo. In year 2, pts in the placebo arm will cross over to receive two cycles of ATA188; pts in the ATA188 arm will receive one cycle of ATA188 followed by one cycle of placebo. Pts completing year 2 will be eligible for a 3-year open-label extension, receiving ATA188 once a year.

Eligible pts are those with a current diagnosis of PMS (primary or secondary), EBV seropositivity, age 18–55 years, and an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score of 3.0–6.5 at screening. Key exclusion criteria include evidence of clinical relapse or radiological activity within the 2 years prior to screening. Pts in part 1 are not eligible for part 2.

Endpoints include: incidence of adverse events; change from baseline in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immunoglobulin G index; change from baseline in clinical disability per EDSS, Timed 25-Foot Walk, and/or 9HPT; ambulatory activity monitoring; cervical spinal cord volume and whole brain volume on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the number of gadolinium-enhancing and new or enlarging T2 lesions on brain MRI scans. Exploratory endpoints include assessment of potential biomarkers such as oligoclonal bands in CSF, persistence of ATA188, and cytokine profiling in blood and CSF compartments.

Conclusions

Part 2, the randomized, placebo-controlled portion of this phase 1 study, is now enrolling pts with the objective of evaluating the safety/tolerability, product kinetics and biological and clinical effect of ATA188 on PMS.

Background

Ocrelizumab (OCR) is approved for the treatment of relapsing (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) at a dose of 600 mg iv twice yearly and showed significant benefit on disability progression (DP). Exposure-response (ER) analyses of the pivotal OCR Phase III studies in patients with RMS or PPMS showed that those with higher exposures (based on individual mean serum concentration [Cmean] exposure quartiles) had a greater benefit on DP vs patients with lower exposure, without an increase in adverse events. While doses of OCR of 1000–2000 mg were studied in a Phase II study, doses >600 mg have not been investigated in Phase III studies in RMS or PPMS patients.

Objectives

To present the OCR higher dose selection rationale and design of two double-blind, parallel-group, randomized Phase IIIb studies (one in RMS and one in PPMS) aiming to explore if a higher dose of OCR will provide even higher benefits vs 600 mg on DP without adversely affecting the established favorable benefit-risk profile.

Methods

The higher dose of OCR in both studies is based on achieving a Cmean of at least that observed in the highest exposure quartile of the Phase III ER analyses while limiting Cmean below that observed with the highest OCR dose of 2000 mg in the Phase II study that had a similar safety profile, except for a slightly higher incidence of infusion-related reactions (pre-medication: methylprednisolone only; no mandatory antihistamine).

Results

Modeling predicts that doses of 1200 mg (patients <75kg) or 1800 mg (patients ≥75kg) twice yearly would fulfill these criteria. Based on data from the pivotal trials, the expected risk reduction vs 600 mg in 12-week composite confirmed DP (cCDP; consisting of time to progression measured by the EDSS, Timed 25-Foot Walk or 9-Hole Peg Test) would be ≥35% in RMS and ≥27% in PPMS. Patients with RMS (EDSS score 0–5.5; N=786) or PPMS (EDSS score ≥3.0–6.5; N=699) will be randomized (2:1) to either the higher dose (above) or OCR 600 mg administered every 24 weeks (first dose divided into 2 infusions separated by 14 days) for ≥120 weeks (minimum 5 doses).

The primary outcome for both trials is risk reduction on cCDP. Immunoglobulin and oligoclonal bands in the CSF will be assessed in a sub-study of up to 288 patients.

Conclusions

These studies will test if higher-dose ocrelizumab provides an even higher benefit on cCDP vs the approved 600 mg dose without adversely affecting the established favorable benefit-risk profile.

Background

In the USA, siponimod is approved in adults for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), including active secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Understanding washout requirements when converting from other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) to siponimod is important in clinical practice and should be assessed prospectively.

Objectives

To report results from an interim analysis of EXCHANGE (NCT03623243), a prospective, 6 month, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study evaluating safety and tolerability of overlapping effects when converting to siponimod from other DMTs.

Methods

Patients aged 18-65 years with advancing RMS, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of >2.0 to 6.5, and on continuous oral/injectable DMTs for ≥3 months at time of consent were included in the analysis. Patients were immediately converted to siponimod, except those previously on teriflunomide who required 11-14 days’ washout (with cholestyramine or activated charcoal). During days 1-6, siponimod was titrated from 0.25 mg to 2 mg. Primary endpoint was incidence of drug-related adverse events (AEs). About 100 patients are being enrolled in a parallel, novel virtual cohort, with telemedicine tools.

Results

112 patients (1 in the virtual arm; 70.5% female) from 42 centers in the USA were enrolled, completed screening and were eligible for safety analysis (33.9% ongoing; 20.5% discontinued; 45.5% completed). At screening, 74.1% (n=83) of patients had relapsing-remitting MS, 21.4% (n=24) had SPMS, 3.6% (n=4) had primary progressive MS and 0.9% (n=1) had a single demyelinating event; 42.0% (n=47) had ≥1 relapse in the prior 12 months. At baseline, median age was 45.5 years, median time since MS diagnosis was 11.2 years and median EDSS score was 3.5. In the safety analysis set, ≥1 drug-related AE was reported in 34.8% of patients (n=39) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 26.2-44.5); 4.5% (n=5) had ≥1 serious AE and 5.4% (n=6) had ≥1 AE leading to drug discontinuation. In the subgroup of patients who had completed or discontinued from the study (n=74), 40.5% (n=30) (95% CI: 29.5-52.6) had ≥1 drug-related AE. Change from baseline in heart rate to 6 hours post first dose and AEs by prior DMT will be presented.

Conclusions

Conversion from oral/injectable DMTs to siponimod without washout had a good safety and tolerability profile with no unexpected findings. Subsequent analyses will include data on conversion to siponimod from infusible (natalizumab/ocrelizumab) DMTs.

Background

Ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, demonstrated superior efficacy versus teriflunomide in Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) trials. Long-term data to assess the safety and benefit-risk profile of ofatumumab 20 mg per month is required.

Objectives

To report the overall safety data of all patients treated with subcutaneous (s.c.) ofatumumab 20 mg for RMS, including patients who continued treatment and those who were newly switched in the ongoing open-label Phase 3b ALITHIOS study.

Methods

The overall safety population was divided into 2 groups 1) Continuous: Patients randomized to ofatumumab in the core Phase 2 APLIOS (12 weeks) or Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II (up to 30 months) trials and continued in ALITHIOS, or completed core study and continued with the safety follow-up, and 2) Newly-switched: Patients randomized to teriflunomide in ASCLEPIOS I/II and switched to ofatumumab in ALITHIOS. All adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs) and deaths up to and including the safety cut-off of 100 days after last administration of ofatumumab are included in this safety analysis until 30 November 2019.

Results

A total of 1873 patients (continuous: 1230; newly-switched: 643) were exposed to ofatumumab ([median duration] continuous: 21.0 months; newly-switched: 4.4 months) for 2118.6 patient-years (continuous: 1903 patient-years; newly-switched: 215.6 patient-years). 71.4% of patients (continuous: 82%; newly-switched: 51%) experienced at least one AE; most were mild-to-moderate. AEs led to ofatumumab discontinuation in 3.0% of patients. SAEs were observed in 6.2% of patients. Incidence of infections was 38.5% (continuous: 49.3%, newly-switched: 18.0%). Serious infections occurred in 1.8% of patients. Incidence of injection-related reactions (IRRs) was 23.7% (continuous: 24.9%; newly-switched: 21.3%); most IRRs were non-serious, grade 1 or 2 and none led to ofatumumab discontinuation. Hepatitis B reactivation, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or deaths have not been reported. No cases of opportunistic infections have been identified. Incidence of malignancies was 0.3% (with confounding) and no new cases have been reported in either continuous or newly-switched patients as of the data cut-off time.

Conclusions

No new safety signals were identified in this extended analysis. The safety profile of ofatumumab in RMS patients remains consistent with data reported in the core studies, including the ASCLEPIOS I/II trials.

Background

Ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, demonstrated superior efficacy vs teriflunomide with a favorable safety profile in relapsing MS (RMS) patients in the Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II trials. Reductions in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG levels are associated with anti-CD20 therapies.

Objectives

To assess the effect of ofatumumab on serum Ig levels and evaluate potential association between a decrease in IgM/IgG levels and risk of infections.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous ofatumumab 20 mg (initial doses: Days 1, 7, and 14; subsequent doses: every 4 weeks from Week (W) 4 onwards) or oral teriflunomide 14 mg once-daily for up to 30 months (m, mean follow-up duration: 18m). Serum IgM/IgG levels were monitored at baseline (BL), W4, W12, and every 12 weeks thereafter (ofatumumab, n=946; teriflunomide, n=936). Proportion of patients with IgM/IgG levels below the lower limit of normal (<LLN [g/L]: IgM, 0.4; IgG, 7.0), and association of IgM/IgG levels with incidence of infections that occurred up to 1m prior and 1m after any decrease in IgM/IgG levels (<LLN vs ≥LLN) were analyzed. Infections in conjunction with IgM/IgG <LLN and lymphopenia and/or neutropenia on the same visit were also analyzed.

Results

Mean IgM/IgG levels were well within reference ranges over time. Over all post-BL visits, a higher proportion of patients on ofatumumab had IgM<LLN (17.7% vs 6.6%), whilst a lower proportion had IgG<LLN (14.2% vs 22.9%) vs patients on teriflunomide. At W96, a similar trend was observed (IgM<LLN: 11.1% vs 1.9%; IgG<LLN: 2.7% vs 6.0%). Proportion of patients on ofatumumab who experienced ≥1 infection within 1m prior and until 1m after IgM<LLN was 31.1% (52/167; 2 serious) vs 51.5% (400/777) with IgM≥LLN (18 serious). Similarly, 27.6% (37/134) reported infections during a drop in IgG<LLN (3 serious) vs 50.6% (410/810) with IgG≥LLN (21 serious). The most common infection was nasopharyngitis. Overall, 1/11 patients with concurrent IgM<LLN and lymphopenia and/or neutropenia, and 7/20 patients with concurrent IgG<LLN and lymphopenia and/or neutropenia reported infections; none were serious.

Conclusions

Reduction in serum IgM levels was observed over time, but for the majority of patients, Ig levels remained above the lower limit of normal. No decrease in IgG levels was reported within the observation period (mean follow-up: 18m). There was no apparent association between decreased Ig levels and infections in conjunction with lymphopenia and/or neutropenia in ofatumumab-treated RMS patients.

Background

In the EXPAND Core part, in the subgroup of patients with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (aSPMS: presence of relapses in the 2 years prior to screening and/or ≥1 T1 gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesion at baseline), siponimod reduced the risk of 3-/6-month confirmed disability progression on Expanded Disability Status Scale (3m/6mCDP) by 31% and 37%, respectively, and the risk of decline in cognitive processing speed (CPS, 6-month confirmed cognition worsening of ≥4-point on Symbol Digit Modalities Test [6mCCW]) by 27% versus placebo.

Objectives

To assess the long-term efficacy and safety of siponimod in patients with aSPMS in the Core and Extension parts of the EXPAND study.

Methods

In patients with aSPMS who had received ≥1 dose of randomized treatment during Core part, and who entered the Extension (36 month extension data cut-off [6 April 2019]; total study duration ≤5 years), time to 3m/6mCDP, 6mCCW, and annualized relapse rate (ARR) were assessed for the Continuous (siponimod in the Core and Extension) and Switch (placebo in the Core and switched to open-label siponimod in the Core/Extension) groups.

Results

Of the 1651 patients randomized in the EXPAND Core part, 779 were with aSPMS (Continuous group: N=516; Switch group: N=263), of which 582 entered the Extension. The risk of 6mCDP was reduced by 29% (0.71 [0.57‒0.90]; p=0.0044) for the Continuous versus Switch group, corresponding to an about 70% delay in time to 6mCDP across the 25^th–40^th percentile). Median time to 6mCDP was 48 months for the Switch group and was not reached for the Continuous group. The risk of 6mCCW for the Continuous versus Switch group was reduced by 33% (0.67 [0.53‒0.86]); p=0.0018), corresponding to an about 70% delay in time to 6mCCW across the 25^th–30^th percentile, median time to 6mCCW (55.5 months) was reached only for the Switch group. In patients without active disease, a nonsignificant trend for reduced risk of disability progression and cognitive worsening was observed for the Continuous vs Switch groups. A significant reduction in ARR for the Continuous versus Switch groups was observed in patients with (0.08 vs 0.12; p=0.0023) or without active disease (0.03 vs 0.08; p<0.0001).

Conclusions

In EXPAND, long-term data analyses in the Continuous versus Switch groups showed that siponimod treatment effects on disability, cognitive processing speed, and relapse outcomes in patients with active SPMS are sustained for up to 5 years, and highlight the value of early treatment initiation.

Background

Ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with monthly 20 mg subcutaneous (s.c.) dosing regimen, demonstrated superior efficacy vs teriflunomide and a favorable safety profile in relapsing MS (RMS) patients in the Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II trials. Prior studies evaluated the effect of >20 mg ofatumumab doses, s.c. and intravenous (i.v.), in both MS and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Injection/infusion-related reactions (IRRs) were the most frequently reported adverse events in these studies.

Objectives

To assess the dose-dependent tolerability of different ofatumumab doses (s.c. and i.v.) in both patients with MS and with RA.

Methods

For MS, data were pooled from ASCLEPIOS I/II, APLIOS (s.c. ofatumumab 20 mg, N=1873 including long-term data), Phase 2 dose-finding (i.v. ofatumumab 100 mg, N=12; 300 mg, N=15; 700 mg, N=11) and MIRROR studies (s.c. ofatumumab every 12 weeks [q12w]: 3 mg, N=34; 30 mg, N=32; 60 mg, N=34; 60 mg every 4 weeks [q4w], N=64). For RA, data were pooled from Phase 1/2/3 studies administered with atleast 1 dose of i.v. ofatumumab (300 mg, N=70; 700 mg, N=282; 1000 mg, N=64) up to Week 24. IRRs were reported within 24 hours of dose administration. Tolerability was measured as IRR-related drug interruption, discontinuation, severity and seriousness.

Results

In MS patients, the incidence of IRRs was lowest with s.c. 20 mg (23.2%) vs all other effective doses. The majority (99.8%) of IRRs with s.c. 20 mg were Grade 1/2 in severity. Grade 3 IRRs were lower with s.c. 20 mg (0.2%) vs all other doses (1.6–18.2%). No drug interruptions were observed across s.c. doses while the drug was interrupted (paused and restarted) in 41.7–72.7% patients with i.v. doses. A lower proportion of patients withdrew treatment with s.c. 20 mg (0.1%) vs other doses (1.6–6.7%). Serious IRRs were low with s.c. 20 mg (0.1%) vs 60 mg doses (q12w, 2.9%; q4w, 3.1%); none were reported with all other doses. Two serious IRRs (of 1873 patients) with s.c. 20 mg occurred at first injection, resolved without treatment withdrawal and with no recurrences. Cytokine release syndrome was reported in 3 patients (s.c. 60 mg q12w, n=1 [hospitalized for observation]; i.v. 300 mg, n=2 [non-serious]). In RA patients, the incidence of IRRs was higher with i.v. 1000 mg (at first infusion: 71.9%), vs 300 mg (55.7%) and 700 mg (36.9%). The majority of IRRs were Grade 1/2 in severity (95.2%), non-serious (96.9%) and subsided with treatment; 8.4% discontinued treatment due to IRRs.

Conclusions

Ofatumumab 20 mg s.c. was well tolerated compared to higher s.c. and i.v. doses. IRRs were predominant with first injection and similar to matching-placebo with subsequent injections. Most IRRs were non-serious and mild-to-moderate in severity. The IRRs were manageable with low withdrawal rate and recovered with symptomatic treatment, even in absence of premedication. For MS, low dose s.c. injections have a better tolerability profile with higher compliance.

Background

Anti-CD20 therapy is highly efficacious in limiting new disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), which depletes most circulating B cells and a small subset of T cells. However, relatively little is known about how anti-CD20 therapy affects T cells.

Objectives

We aimed to define phenotypic and functional profiles of B cells during depletion and early reconstitution following anti-CD20 antibody initiation.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were serially isolated and cryopreserved using strict standard operating procedures prior to treatment, early (3-4 months) and/or later (approx. 6 months). Following anti-CD20 (ocrelizumab) treatment initiation, in 18 previously treatment-naive MS patients. Functional immune phenotyping was performed in batch using multi-parametric flow cytometry panels developed and validated for use with cryopreserved PBMC.

Results

In addition to plasmablasts which, as expected, were not fully depleted, CD11c⁺ B cells appeared less efficiently depleted after treatment initiation. By 6 months post-treatment, B cells were partially repopulated, though to differing extents across individuals. In general, CD10⁺ transitional B cells (implicated as anti-inflammatory), and a subset of memory B cells, were preferentially repopulated. The repopulating B cells exhibited increased proliferation, though they expressed lower levels of activation markers and higher levels of regulatory markers. Ratios of IL-6/IL-10-producing B cells were significantly diminished in the reconstituting population, as compared to the treatment-naïve baseline.

Conclusions

The abnormal pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory imbalance of B cells seen in untreated MS patients appears improved in reconstituting B cells even after an initial cycle of ocrelizumab, though with a considerable degree of heterogeneity across patients. Unexpectedly, CD11c⁺ B cells, that have been implicated as pro-inflammatory in other systemic autoimmune diseases, appeared less susceptible to depletion. Of interest is whether a particular imbalance between CD11c⁺ B and other B cell subsets may underlie the infrequent episodes of disease activity observed early after treatment initiation.

Background

The central vein sign (CVS) is a proposed diagnostic biomarker for MS that can be identified using FLAIR*. The robustness of 3T FLAIR*, with and without the injection of gadolinium contrast agent (Gd), for imaging the CVS in a multicenter setting has not yet been demonstrated.

Objectives

To assess the conspicuity of the CVS on 3T FLAIR* imaging acquired across different sites with and without the injection of Gd.

Methods

A cross-sectional multicenter study recruited adults with a clinical and/or radiological suspicion of having MS from 10 sites within the North American Imaging in MS (NAIMS) Cooperative. High-isotropic-resolution T2*-weighted segmented echo-planar imaging (T2*-EPI) was acquired at 3T, pre- and post-injection of Gd, along with 3D FLAIR on different scanner brands and models. T2*-EPI and FLAIR images were processed on an online imaging platform (QMENTA) to generate FLAIR* images. To objectively assess the conspicuity of the CVS inside MS lesions, lesions and veins were segmented automatically and used to compute lesion-to-vein contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measures. ANOVA was used to compare CNR values across sites with post-hoc Tukey Honest Significant Difference testing. Multiple testing between sites was considered by controlling the false discovery rate. One-sided paired t-testing was used to compare the overall lesion-to-vein CNR values between pre- and post-Gd FLAIR*.

Results

Seventy-eight patients from nine sites were included in the analysis; one site was excluded due to low enrollment. The overall mean(coefficient of variation, CV) lesion-to-vein CNR values across the nine sites were 0.35(14%) and 0.37(12%) for pre- and post-Gd FLAIR*, respectively. Excluding an additional site that used an unharmonized FLAIR acquisition, the resulting mean(CV) CNR values were 0.36(12%) for pre-Gd and 0.37(11%) for post-Gd FLAIR*. Across most sites, there was a significant improvement in lesion-to-vein CNR measures for post-Gd compared to pre-Gd FLAIR* [mean difference = 0.011, p < 0.001, 95% CI: (0.008,0.015)].

Conclusions

Lesion-to-vein CNR measures across sites are in line with values first published for 3T FLAIR* and demonstrate the robustness of 3T FLAIR* for imaging the CVS in a multicenter setting. Moreover, there was an increase in vein conspicuity with improvement in CNR on post-Gd FLAIR*. Based on these results, a prospective multicenter NAIMS CVS diagnostic study, sponsored by NINDS, will use 3T FLAIR* imaging with Gd in the study protocol.

Background

Previous studies have described extensive microstructural brain tissue abnormalities in pediatric MS patients. However, available techniques do not distinguish the extent to which such abnormalities are due to axonal loss or demyelination. Further, little is known about microstructural brain tissue changes in MOG-associated disorders (MOGad).

Objectives

To apply a combined analysis of magnetization transfer saturation (MT_sat) and multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with computation of myelin and axonal volume fractions (MVF and AVF) and imaging g-ratio (the ratio between inner and outer diameter of the myelin sheath); to investigate the specific relationship between these metrics in the corpus callosum (CC) and within brain white matter lesions (WML) of pediatric MS and MOGad.

Methods

We acquired standardized 3T brain MRI in 26 healthy controls (HC) (58% females (F), mean age [years (y) (range)] 15y (9-19)); 16 MS (69% F, 17y (14-18), disease duration (DD) 3y (1-7), time from last relapse (TLR) 2y (0-6)); and 11 MOGad (72% F, 12y (8-18), DD 3y (0-6), TLR 1y (0-3), 8/11 relapsing). WML and CC were segmented according to establishes procedures. DWI processing was performed with FSL and DMIPy; MT_sat, MVF, AVF, and g-ratio were computed using the Jargon data management system. We used general linear models to model average MVF, AVF, and g-ratio in the CC and WML of each group, including the factors age, DD, and the interaction term group*DD. Models including sex were tested, and all exhibited lower AIC.

Results

Relative to HC, MS showed decreased CC MVF (-0.018/y, p=0.0304) and AVF (-0.0069/y; p=0.053) and corresponding increased CC g-ratio (0.0084/y, p=0.059) with increased DD. Relative to HC, MOGad showed decreased CC MVF (-0.017/y, p=0.0304) and AVF (-0.0081/y, p=0.014) with increased DD, without significant CC g-ratio changes. Both MS and MOGad showed decreased average WML MVF compared to HC WM (-0.19, p<10^-8; and -0.2, p<10^-8). MOGad also showed decreased average WML AVF (-0.067, p=0.0048) compared to HC. Average WML g-ratio was higher in MS than MOGad (0.17, p=0.0102), but not significantly different from HC in either group. WML MVF, AVF, and g-ratio did not change significantly with DD in MS or MOGad compared to HC.

Conclusions

Both pediatric MS and MOGad exhibited MRI correlates of axonal loss and demyelination in the CC and WML. Our measures of axonal loss in MOGad reinforces recent work warning of potentially long-term impacts on the brain from non-MS demyelinating pathologies.

Background

Changes in magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) are a marker of changes in myelin density and associated tissue integrity in the brain. Siponimod improved MTR recovery in lesions and demonstrated a significant effect on MTR decrease in normal-appearing brain tissue (NABT) and cortical grey matter (cGM) with a more pronounced effect on normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in the overall EXPAND secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) population, as reported previously.

Objectives

To investigate the effect of siponimod vs placebo (PBO) on MTR changes in NABT, cGM, and NAWM in subgroups of SPMS patients.

Methods

This prospective MTR substudy assessed the effect of siponimod versus PBO on median normalized MTR (nMTR) in NABT, cGM and NAWM assessed by absolute change from baseline (BL) to Month (M) 24 using repeated measures models. Patient subgroups were defined by: disease history and severity (age [≤45/>45 years], disease duration [≤15/>15 years], Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score [≤5.5/≥6.0], Symbol Digit Modalities Test score (≤43/>43); and inflammatory disease activity (active/non-active SPMS, with/without relapse in 2 years before screening, with/without gadolinium-enhancing lesions). Data from the per-protocol set (n=443) are presented.

Results

The subgroup analysis indicated that absolute changes from BL in median nMTR for NAWM ranged from –0.124 to –0.034 in the PBO group and from –0.016 to 0.040 in the siponimod group, which corresponds to 79–198% attenuation in median nMTR decrease versus PBO across all the subgroups studied (all p<0.05 except EDSS≥6 subgroup, p=0.064). The results were consistent for NABT (70–170%) and cGM (44–188%) although slightly less pronounced (p>0.05 for some subgroups). In the active SPMS subgroup, siponimod attenuated median nMTR decrease across NABT, cGM and NAWM by 91–109% (p<0.01 all); and in the non-active SPMS subgroup by 170–198% (p=0.0151 for NAWM, p>0.05 for NABT, cGM).

Conclusions

Over 24 months, siponimod attenuated the decrease in median nMTR in brain tissues across the patient subgroups characterized by disease activity and severity. The effect of siponimod was most pronounced in NAWM. These data support preclinical studies of siponimod, showing direct beneficial CNS effects on myelination.

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and MOG-associated disorders (MOGad) are characterized by hyperintense white matter (WM) lesions on T₂/FLAIR MRI. Conventional imaging is sensitive but does not inform on the specific pathological substrate. Magnetization transfer saturation provides a good myelin measure, and multishell diffusion is sensitive to the axon + myelin assembly. Together, these can be modelled to estimate myelin volume fraction (MVF), axonal volume fraction (AVF) and imaging g-ratio.

Objectives

To quantify gradients of damage to axons and myelin in lesions and surrouding normal appearing white matter, in pediatric MS and MOGad.

Methods

15 MS [67% females (F), mean (range) age [years (y)]: 17y (14-18), disease duration (DD) 3y (0-6), time from last relapse (TLR) 2y (0-6)] and 7 MOGad [86% F, 13y (8-18), DD 3y (0-6), TLR 1y (0-3), 6/7 relapsing] participants received 3T brain MRI. MVF, AVF and g-ratio were computed according to established procedures. T₂ lesions were segmented according to standardized pipelines and WM masks by multi-atlas segmentation. Euclidean distance transforms labelled voxels in normal-appearing WM with the distance to the nearest lesion voxel, and voxels inside lesions with the distance to the nearest non-lesional WM voxel. Mean MVF, AVF and g-ratio were computed on each isodistant surface. Data were modeled using linear mixed models with distance, diagnosis, and their interaction. Knots were used at 0 and 2mm distance.

Results

MVF decreased towards the center of lesions (MOGad: -0.03/mm; MS: -0.05/mm; p values (ps)<0.002; difference n.s.) as did AVF (MOGad: -0.03/mm; MS: -0.01/mm; ps<0.0002; difference p=0.02); this graded damage extended to 2mm outside lesions. Beyond this, AVF continued to increase (MOGad: 0.001/mm; MS: 0.0003/mm; ps<10^-6; difference p<10^-6). Inside lesions, g-ratio increased towards the center in MS (0.03/mm, p<10^-6) and decreased in MOGad (p=0.15; MOGad-MS difference p<10^-4). G-ratio rose with distance outside lesions (MOGad: 0.001/mm; MS: 0.0004/mm; ps<10^-4; difference p<10^-5). AVF and g-ratio were similar between groups (within 2%) at 20mm from lesions; MVF was higher in MS (14%, p=0.08).

Conclusions

MS and MOGad showed myelin and axonal loss of decreasing severity with distance from lesion center, and this damage extended outside visible lesions. However, MOGad exhibited more severe axonal loss within and near lesions. The corresponding decreasing g-ratio relative to MS may indicate preferential loss of small axons in MS, or relatively better remyelination in MOGad.

Background

The gut microbiota is emerging as a critical regulator of immune responses and appears to play an important role in MS. The International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome study (iMSMS) is a global collaboration aimed at elucidating the role of commensal gut bacteria in MS by acquiring and analyzing samples from 2000 patients and 2000 household healthy controls.

Objectives

The iMSMS focuses on identifying the microbes, genes and pathways that are involved in MS pathogenesis and on investigating how the microbiome changes response to treatment.

Methods

A total of 576 case and household healthy control pairs were recruited from 7 centers located in the US (West and East coasts), Europe and South America. Stool samples were collected and evaluated by both 16S and shallow whole metagenome shotgun sequencing. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to understand patterns of variation on gut microbiome.

Results

This is the largest MS microbiome study reported to date. Our results showed a statistically significant difference of beta diversity between MS and healthy controls for the first time in MS. Intriguingly, multiple species of Akkermansia, including the known mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, were significantly enriched in untreated MS patients after adjusting for confounding factors, but the difference was not detected in treated MS group versus control. Ruminococcus torques and Eisenbergiella tayi were also among the top significantly enriched bacteria in MS. Inversely, a main butyrate producer, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, was significantly decreased in the untreated MS group. Functional pathways of L-tryptophan biosynthesis and L-threonine biosynthesis were slightly increased in untreated MS patients, while 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide biosynthesis I was increased in the treated group.

Conclusions

Our large household-controlled study allowed us to identify modest but statistically robust MS-associated changes in bacterial composition and functions. It provides the foundation for all future studies of the gut microbiota in MS. The strain-level genomic variation and microbiome-derived molecules need to be further explored for understanding microbial adaptation and pathogenicity.

Background

The gut microbiota may influence multiple sclerosis (MS) onset. Pediatric MS offers the opportunity to examine pathological processes close to risk acquisition.

Objectives

To examine the gut microbiota from stool samples of persons with pediatric onset MS, or monophasic acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) and unaffected controls in a case-control study.

Methods

Persons ≤21 years old with symptom onset <18 years of age with either MS (McDonald criteria) or ADS were eligible, as were unaffected controls with no known neurological or immune-mediated condition (migraine, asthma/allergies were permissible) were enrolled via the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network. Stools were collected between Nov/2015–Mar/2018, shipped on ice, and stored at -80°C. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene (V4 region) was amplified from extracted DNA and sequenced via the Illumina MiSeq platform. Amplicon sequence variants were used to compare the gut microbiota by disease status (MS/ADS/controls). The MS cases were also compared by disease-modifying drug (DMD) status (exposed/naïve). Negative binomial regression was used for genus-level analyses, with rate ratios adjusted (aRR) for age and sex.

Results

Of the 32/41/36 included MS/ADS/control participants, 24/23/21 were girls, averaging age 16.5/13.8/15.1 years at stool sample, respectively. The MS/ADS cases were 14.0/6.9 years at symptom onset. The 3 groups (MS/ADS/controls) were relatively similar for: body mass index (median: 22.8/19.7/19.9), presence of constipation (number of participants with a Bristol Stool Scale score of 1 or 2=8/9/7) and diet (% caloric intake for fat (median)=34/35/34 and for fibre (median)=9/10/11 g/day). Nine MS cases (28%) were DMD naïve. Gut microbiota diversity (alpha and beta) did not differ by disease (MS/ADS/controls), or DMD status (all p>0.1), while taxa-level findings did. For example, relative abundance of the Proteobacteria, Sutterella was depleted for MS cases vs controls and MS vs ADS cases (aRR:0.13;95%CI:0.03–0.59 and 0.21;95%CI:0.05–0.98), but did not differ for the ADS cases vs controls or by DMD status for the MS cases (all p>0.1). Several of the butyrate-producing genera within the Clostridia class (Firmicutes phylum) —Ruminococcaceae UCG−003, Lachnospiraceae UCG−008 and UCG−004—exhibited similar patterns.

Conclusions

Gut microbiota diversity was similar for individuals with pediatric MS relative to either monophasic ADS or unaffected controls. However, at the taxa-level, differences were observed which differentiated the MS cases from the monophasic ADS cases and controls.

Background

Siponimod significantly reduced the relative risk of 3-month (m) confirmed disability progression (CDP) by 21% and 6mCDP by 26% versus placebo in the EXPAND core study. Siponimod also showed a significant benefit on cognitive processing speed (CPS) as measured by change in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of siponimod on CPS in subgroups of patients with active (aSPMS) and non-active (naSPMS) disease from the EXPAND core study.

Methods

EXPAND (N=1651) was a double-blind Phase 3 study that randomized a broad range of SPMS patients to siponimod or placebo (2:1). This subgroup post-hoc analysis included patients with aSPMS (siponimod, n=516; placebo, n=263; defined as presence of relapses in the 2 years before screening and/or ≥1 T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions at baseline) and naSPMS (siponimod, n=557; placebo, n=270; counterpart of aSPMS). The outcomes analyzed were change in SDMT score from baseline to M24 derived from the mixed model for repeated measures; time to 6m confirmed ≥4-points cognitive worsening/improvement (6mCW/6mCI) on SDMT and a categorical analysis showing the proportion of patients with worsened, stable and improved SDMT scores (worsened/improved by ≥4 points since baseline and until the end of the trial, or otherwise stable) at M24.

Results

Change in SDMT (95% CI) versus placebo from baseline to M24 in the aSPMS and naSPMS groups was 2.34 (0.66; 4.02) and 2.44 (0.67; 4.22; p<0.01 for both), respectively, consistent with the overall EXPAND core population (2.28 [1.09; 3.48]; p<0.001). In patients with aSPMS, siponimod reduced the risk of 6mCW by 27% (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.73 [0.53; 1.01]; p=0.06) and improved the chance of 6mCI by 62% (1.62 [1.14; 2.29]; p=0.007) versus placebo. Corresponding values in the naSPMS group were: 6mCW, 24% (0.76 [0.53; 1.09]; p=ns) and 6mCI, 19% (1.19 [0.86; 1.65]; p=ns). In the aSPMS group, a lower proportion of patients worsened (27.3% vs 38.2%, p=0.002) and a higher proportion of patients improved (34.1% vs 22.9%, p=0.001) on SDMT versus placebo. Corresponding proportions for the naSPMS group were: worsened, 21.2% vs 23.7%, p=ns; improved, 35.6 vs 31.2%, p=ns.

Conclusions

Siponimod was associated with relevant benefits in CPS as measured by change in SDMT in patients with active and non-active SPMS. In patients with active disease, both a reduced risk for clinically relevant worsening and an increased chance for clinically relevant improvement were observed.

Background

Immunosenescence (ISC) is characterized by age-associated changes in immune system composition and function. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong illness, hence the disease process is superimposed on, and may interact bi-directionally with, ISC such that ISC may alter disease activity, while cumulative inflammatory events in MS may influence ISC. Since the T cell compartment is markedly affected by ISC, we hypothesized that T-cell aging may differ between MS patients and normal controls (NCs).

Objectives

To characterize age-related changes in circulating T cells in treatment-naïve multiple sclerosis patients compared to NCs.

Methods

Frequencies of circulating T-cell subsets were determined using multiparametric flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 50 NC (Mean Age 48.6, Range 20 – 84) and 40 treatment-naïve MS (Mean Age 43.3, Range 18 – 72). Age-related changes in T cell subsets, and differences in T cell ISC between NC and MS, were determined using linear mixed effects models.

Results

Age-related changes in circulating T-cell subsets in the NCs recapitulated known features of ISC, including reductions in recent thymic emigrants and reciprocal changes in CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as in naïve and memory T cells. While most aspects of T cell ISC in MS patients were similar to those observed in NC, MS patients experienced early and persistent redistribution of the naïve and memory CD4 T cell compartment, such that at any given age, frequencies of circulating naïve (CCR7+CD45RA+) CD4 T cells were 16.7% lower and frequencies of effector memory (CCR7-CD45RA-) CD4 T cells were 14.5% greater on average than NC. Further, aged MS patients exhibited a relative increase in activated (HLA-DR+CD38+) and cytotoxic (CCL5+EOMES+) CD4 T cells compared to NC, while they did not exhibit increased CLA+ CD4 T cells. Lastly, aged MS patients exhibited altered immune checkpoint-molecule expression, wherein frequencies of CTLA-4+ CD8 T cells did not increase with age as was seen in NC.

Conclusions

Most T-cell subsets followed similar aging trajectories in MS patients and NCs, indicating normal ISC is largely conserved in MS. Nonetheless, key differences suggest that aged MS patient T cells exhibit increased propensity for immune activation and effector function compared to NC, which may reflect ongoing inflammation and injury throughout the lifespan. Further elucidation of ISC in MS may inform management of immune therapies in aging MS patients.

Background

Background: B cells mediate patho­genesis in multi­ple sclerosis (MS) by mecha­nisms unrelated to immuno­globulin (Ig) pro­duction. Supernatants (Sup) from cultured MS B cells but not controls are cyto­toxic to oligo­dendro­cytes (OL) and neurons (Lisak et al. 2012, 2017). Killing is inde­pen­dent of complement, and does not cor­rel­ate with Sup levels of IgG, IgM or cyto­kines tested. Death of OL and neurons involves apoptosis (Lisak et al. 2017) and is mediated by factors in exosome-enriched fractions (Ex-En) (Benjamins et al. 2019).

Objectives

Objective: To investigate how Ex-En released by cultured unstimulated peripheral blood B cells from MS patients kill OL.

Methods

Methods: B cells were cultured in exosome-depleted serum-free medium. Ex-En were prepared from Sup by ultracentrifugation. Sup or Ex-En were diluted 1:4 with OL culture medium and tested for toxicity on rat OL. Proteomic analysis was performed on Sup and Ex-En.

Results

Results: MS B cell Sup kill OL primarily by caspase-dependent pathways and are toxic to OL in both mixed glial and OL-enriched cultures, suggesting direct action on OL. Toxicity is reduced by activation of melanocortin and sigma-1 receptors, implicating cAMP and IP3 pathways in protection. We developed methods for reliable proteomic analysis of the low amounts of protein in Ex-En, and a strategy for RNASeq, lipidomic and integrated bioinformatic analyses. Feasibility studies in progress will give a sample-size estimate based on analysis of variability for detection of significant differences between MS and control.

Conclusions

Conclusions: A multi-omics approach may allow identification of candidates responsible for toxicity to OL in Ex-En from MS B cells.

Background

Several studies showed prognostic value of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). For the first time, we explored the association of sNfL and subclinical disease activity using data from the APLIOS trial.

Objectives

To evaluate the potential of sNfL as a patient-level biomarker for monitoring subclinical disease activity in RMS patients.

Methods

In the APLIOS open-label study of ofatumumab 20 mg s.c in RMS (n=284), frequent (14 time points over 12 weeks) sNfL measurements were performed (Siemens sNfL RUO assay on ADVIA Centaur®). MRI scans were done every 4 weeks. The potential monitoring value of sNfL was examined in 3 ways: 1) Age-adjusted geometric mean sNfL over time was estimated in 3 subgroups: patients who had on-study clinical relapses (r⁺), patients with presence of gadolinium-enhancing T1 (GdT1) lesions at or post-baseline but no clinical relapses (GdT1⁺r⁻) and patients with neither lesions nor clinical relapses (GdT1⁻r⁻); 2) As high-frequency sampling permitted an estimation of daily sNfL levels, every report of GdT1 lesion was linked to the estimated sNfL level at the time of the scan (using a recurrent-events analysis); and 3) Patient-level predictions of GdT1 lesion were done using the last sNfL value before the corresponding scan and compared with MRI-based predictions (in terms of across-scan average area under the receiver operating characteristics curve [AUC]).

Results

Over the study course, the age-adjusted geometric mean sNfL levels in the GdT1⁻r⁻group (n=153) were low compared to other two subgroups, with 95% CIs below those of the r⁺ (n=15) and GdT1⁺r^– (n=116) groups. After adjusting for baseline age and MRI covariates, a between-patient difference of 50% higher sNfL at the time of GdT1 scan was associated with a 29% higher risk of persistent GdT1 lesion (p<0.0001). At the individual patient level, the predictive power of the last sNfL value (AUC=0.76) before scan for presence of GdT1 lesion was similar to that of baseline GdT1-count (AUC=0.77).

Conclusions

This study suggests sNfL may have utility for monitoring of subclinical disease activity in RMS patients as shown by its predictive value of GdT1 lesion activity. Assessments of sNfL could complement regular MRIs, and may provide an alternative in cases where standard MRI monitoring is infeasible.

Background

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a biomarker of neuroaxonal injury in multiple sclerosis (MS). Thalamic atrophy occurs early and may be a sensitive marker of overall brain damage. Ocrelizumab (OCR) reduced brain atrophy and NfL in patients with relapsing MS (RMS) and those with primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Objectives

To examine the independent impact of OCR and baseline (BL) NfL on thalamic volume (TV) and clinical progression in patients with PPMS and RMS, including those with RMS without acute BL activity (i.e. no gadolinium–enhancing [Gd+] lesions or relapse in the last 3 months).

Methods

Patients were from OPERA I/II (RMS, n=1,421) and ORATORIO (PPMS, n=596). Thalamic atrophy was calculated as annualized percentage TV change (PTVC) from Wk 24 to the end of controlled treatment (ORATORIO, Wk 120; OPERA I/II, Wk 96). OCR treatment (vs IFNβ-1a [RMS] or placebo [PPMS]) and log-transformed BL NfL were examined for associations with PTVC (linear regression) and 24-week confirmed disability progression (Cox regression) adjusting for BL demographic and disease characteristics.

Results

In patients with PPMS and RMS, OCR treatment (PTVC: +0.47% and +0.33%, respectively) and lower BL NfL (+0.20% and +0.33% per 2-fold lower NfL) independently associated with a smaller TV reduction (all p<0.005). Adjusting for BL NfL level, Gd+ lesion count, T2 lesion volume and BL disability, OCR still reduced disability progression on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (PPMS, hazard ratio [HR]=0.73; RMS, HR=0.65; both p<0.05]), 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) (PPMS, HR=0.53, p=0.002; RMS, HR=0.52, p=0.059), Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) (PPMS, HR=0.79, p=0.063), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (RMS, HR=0.54, p=0.002) and time to EDSS 6 (RMS, HR=0.42, p=0.009). In patients with PPMS, higher BL NfL was associated with worsening on 9HPT (HR=1.34 per 2-fold higher NfL), T25FW (HR=1.19) and time to EDSS 7 (HR=1.78) (all p<0.05). In patients with RMS without acute BL activity, higher BL NfL was associated with EDSS worsening (HR=1.49), progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) (HR=1.61), 9HPT (HR=2.1) and time to EDSS 6 (HR=2.24) (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

Ocrelizumab treatment remained associated with reduced thalamic atrophy and clinical progression after adjusting for baseline NfL and other factors. Higher BL NfL was associated with increased rates of thalamic atrophy and clinical progression in patients with PPMS and those with RMS without acute disease activity.

Background

Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a biomarker of neuroaxonal injury associated with acute disease activity and may be prognostic for disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Ocrelizumab (OCR) is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody indicated for relapsing MS (RMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Objectives

To assess the impact of OCR on blood NfL distribution in patients with RMS from the OPERA I and II trials and those with PPMS from ORATORIO.

Methods

Pretreatment and posttreatment NfL levels (measured using the SiMOA assay) with OCR vs interferon β-1a (OPERA I and II; n=1,421) or placebo (ORATORIO; n=596) were compared using geometric mean (GM) and GM ratios (GMR). Patients were stratified by presence/absence of acute disease activity at baseline (BL) (T1 gadolinium [Gd]-enhancing lesions and/or relapse in prior 3 months for RMS; T1 Gd-enhancing lesions for PPMS). Age-adjusted NfL distributions (using a linear model for log-NfL and age derived from a healthy donor [HD] cohort) at BL and after OCR were compared with HD using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.

Results

Significant reductions in NfL were observed 3 months after OCR initiation (RMS, GMR=0.80; PPMS, GMR=0.89) and sustained through the end of controlled treatment (RMS [96 weeks], GMR=0.56; PPMS [120 weeks], GMR=0.81; all p<0.0001). Age-adjusted BL serum NfL was elevated in patients with RMS disease activity (GM [95% CI]=12.7 [11.9–13.6] pg/mL) vs those without (5.5 [5.3–5.7] pg/mL) and HD (4.1 [3.9–4.4] pg/mL; all p<0.0001). In OCR-treated patients with RMS, GM [95% CI] serum NfL levels after 96 weeks (with activity at BL, 4.4 [4.2–4.6] pg/mL; without activity at BL, 4.1 [4.0–4.3] pg/mL) were comparable to HD (4.1 [3.9–4.4] pg/mL; all p>0.1). Age-adjusted BL plasma NfL was also elevated in PPMS patients with disease activity (GM [95% CI]=8.7 [7.5–10.1] pg/mL) vs those without (4.9 [4.6–5.2] pg/mL) and HD (3.1 [2.9–3.3] pg/mL; all p<0.0001). In OCR-treated patients with PPMS, GM [95% CI] plasma NfL levels after 120 weeks (with activity at BL, 4.6 [4.1–5.1] pg/mL; without activity at BL, 4.2 [4.0–4.4] pg/mL) were reduced from BL (all p<0.005) but remained elevated vs HD (all p<0.001).

Conclusions

NfL is highly elevated in patients with acute MS disease activity, and more subtle elevations are observed in RMS and PPMS patients without detectable disease activity. Ocrelizumab significantly reduces NfL in RMS and PPMS patients with and without detectable disease activity.

Background

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a necessary risk factor for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) [Abrahamyan S et al. JNNP 2020; Pakpoor J et al. Mult Scler 2012]. Early experience with autologous EBV-specific T-cell adoptive immunotherapy proved safe and may offer clinical benefit [Pender MP et al. JCI Insight 2018].

Objectives

This Phase I study evaluated the safety and potential efficacy of off-the-shelf, allogeneic EBV-targeted T-cell therapy (ATA188) in adults with progressive forms of MS (NCT03283826).

Methods

In part 1, four cohorts received escalating doses of ATA188 to determine the recommended part 2 dose (RP2D). Patients (pts) were followed for 1-year and given the option to participate in a 4-year open label extension (OLE) at the RP2D (cohort 3 dose). In addition to safety, sustained disability improvement (SDI) was assessed, defined as improvement in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) or Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) at ≥2 consecutive time points [Pender MP et al. EAN 2020; LB130]. Other measures evaluated include Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), 12-item MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12), MS Impact Scale-29 (physical; MSIS-29), and whole brain volume (via magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). As of August 2020, we expect 12-month (m) data for all 4 cohorts, which marks the end of the dose finding portion of this study, will be available for presentation.

Results

As of April 2020, 25 pts had received ≥1 dose of ATA188. No grade >3 events, dose-limiting toxicities, cytokine release syndrome, graft vs host disease, or infusion reactions were observed. Two treatment-emergent serious adverse events were reported: muscle spasticity (grade 2; not treatment related) and MS relapse (grade 3; possibly treatment related). Efficacy endpoints were assessed in cohorts 1–4 (n=24) at 6m and in cohorts 1–3 (n=17) at 12m. Six pts met SDI criteria at 6m and 5 pts met it at 12m, which was driven by EDSS in all but 2 pts at both 6 and 12m. At both timepoints, a higher proportion of pts showed SDI with increasing dose. In cohorts 1–3, all pts with SDI at 6m maintained it through 12m. Pts with SDI (vs those without) tended to have greater improvements in FSS, MSWS-12, and MSIS-29 (physical) scores, as well as less reduction in whole brain volume on MRI, from baseline to 12m. As of June 2020, OLE data from the 15m timepoint were available for 4 pts; 3 had SDI at 6m and 12m which was maintained at 15m.

Conclusions

Preliminary data indicate ATA188 is well tolerated. A higher proportion of pts showed sustained disability improvement (SDI) with increasing dose. Pts who achieved SDI at any timepoint maintained it at all future timepoints and tended to show improvements in fatigue, physical function, and MRI whole brain volume at 12m. Based on these data, part 2 of the study (randomized placebo-controlled portion) has been initiated using the cohort 3 dose.

Background

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a necessary risk factor for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) [Abrahamyan S et al. JNNP 2020; Pakpoor J, et al. Mult Scler 2012]. ATA188 – an off-the-shelf, allogeneic EBV-targeted T-cell immunotherapy – is being evaluated in a two-part Phase I, multicenter study in adults with progressive forms of MS (PMS; NCT03283826). Part 1 of the study (open-label, single-arm sequential dose escalation) indicates ATA188 is well tolerated, with a higher proportion of patients (pts) showing sustained disability improvement with increasing dose [Pender MP et al. EAN 2020]. These data need to be confirmed in a well-designed randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (DBPCS).

Objectives

Part 2 is a DBPCS designed to further characterize ATA188 safety/tolerability, product kinetics, as well as to assess the impact of treatment on clinical endpoints and biological markers of MS compared to placebo.

Methods

This trial will utilize an adaptive study design. Potential adaptations include considerations in dose, sample size, and endpoints.

Results

In this DBPCS, 36 pts will be randomized to receive ATA188 or placebo; up to 36 additional pts (72 total) may be added if needed. Based on part 1 results, the first 18 pts in part 2 will be randomized to receive ATA188 Cohort 3 dose (2.0x10⁷cells) or placebo. Different doses of ATA188 may be explored in additional pts. In year 1, pts will receive two treatment cycles, ATA188 or placebo. In year 2, pts in the placebo arm will cross over to receive two cycles of ATA188; pts in the ATA188 arm will receive one cycle of ATA188 followed by one cycle of placebo. Pts completing year 2 will be eligible for a 3-year open-label extension, receiving ATA188 once a year.

Eligible pts are those with a current diagnosis of PMS (primary or secondary), EBV seropositivity, age 18–55 years, and an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score of 3.0–6.5 at screening. Key exclusion criteria include evidence of clinical relapse or radiological activity within the 2 years prior to screening. Pts in part 1 are not eligible for part 2.

Endpoints include: incidence of adverse events; change from baseline in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immunoglobulin G index; change from baseline in clinical disability per EDSS, Timed 25-Foot Walk, and/or 9HPT; ambulatory activity monitoring; cervical spinal cord volume and whole brain volume on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the number of gadolinium-enhancing and new or enlarging T2 lesions on brain MRI scans. Exploratory endpoints include assessment of potential biomarkers such as oligoclonal bands in CSF, persistence of ATA188, and cytokine profiling in blood and CSF compartments.

Conclusions

Part 2, the randomized, placebo-controlled portion of this phase 1 study, is now enrolling pts with the objective of evaluating the safety/tolerability, product kinetics and biological and clinical effect of ATA188 on PMS.

Background

In the USA, siponimod is approved in adults for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), including active secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Understanding washout requirements when converting from other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) to siponimod is important in clinical practice and should be assessed prospectively.

Objectives

To report results from an interim analysis of EXCHANGE (NCT03623243), a prospective, 6 month, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study evaluating safety and tolerability of overlapping effects when converting to siponimod from other DMTs.

Methods

Patients aged 18-65 years with advancing RMS, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of >2.0 to 6.5, and on continuous oral/injectable DMTs for ≥3 months at time of consent were included in the analysis. Patients were immediately converted to siponimod, except those previously on teriflunomide who required 11-14 days’ washout (with cholestyramine or activated charcoal). During days 1-6, siponimod was titrated from 0.25 mg to 2 mg. Primary endpoint was incidence of drug-related adverse events (AEs). About 100 patients are being enrolled in a parallel, novel virtual cohort, with telemedicine tools.

Results

112 patients (1 in the virtual arm; 70.5% female) from 42 centers in the USA were enrolled, completed screening and were eligible for safety analysis (33.9% ongoing; 20.5% discontinued; 45.5% completed). At screening, 74.1% (n=83) of patients had relapsing-remitting MS, 21.4% (n=24) had SPMS, 3.6% (n=4) had primary progressive MS and 0.9% (n=1) had a single demyelinating event; 42.0% (n=47) had ≥1 relapse in the prior 12 months. At baseline, median age was 45.5 years, median time since MS diagnosis was 11.2 years and median EDSS score was 3.5. In the safety analysis set, ≥1 drug-related AE was reported in 34.8% of patients (n=39) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 26.2-44.5); 4.5% (n=5) had ≥1 serious AE and 5.4% (n=6) had ≥1 AE leading to drug discontinuation. In the subgroup of patients who had completed or discontinued from the study (n=74), 40.5% (n=30) (95% CI: 29.5-52.6) had ≥1 drug-related AE. Change from baseline in heart rate to 6 hours post first dose and AEs by prior DMT will be presented.

Conclusions

Conversion from oral/injectable DMTs to siponimod without washout had a good safety and tolerability profile with no unexpected findings. Subsequent analyses will include data on conversion to siponimod from infusible (natalizumab/ocrelizumab) DMTs.

Background

Ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with monthly 20 mg subcutaneous (s.c.) dosing regimen, demonstrated superior efficacy vs teriflunomide and a favorable safety profile in relapsing MS (RMS) patients in the Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I/II trials. Prior studies evaluated the effect of >20 mg ofatumumab doses, s.c. and intravenous (i.v.), in both MS and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Injection/infusion-related reactions (IRRs) were the most frequently reported adverse events in these studies.

Objectives

To assess the dose-dependent tolerability of different ofatumumab doses (s.c. and i.v.) in both patients with MS and with RA.

Methods

For MS, data were pooled from ASCLEPIOS I/II, APLIOS (s.c. ofatumumab 20 mg, N=1873 including long-term data), Phase 2 dose-finding (i.v. ofatumumab 100 mg, N=12; 300 mg, N=15; 700 mg, N=11) and MIRROR studies (s.c. ofatumumab every 12 weeks [q12w]: 3 mg, N=34; 30 mg, N=32; 60 mg, N=34; 60 mg every 4 weeks [q4w], N=64). For RA, data were pooled from Phase 1/2/3 studies administered with atleast 1 dose of i.v. ofatumumab (300 mg, N=70; 700 mg, N=282; 1000 mg, N=64) up to Week 24. IRRs were reported within 24 hours of dose administration. Tolerability was measured as IRR-related drug interruption, discontinuation, severity and seriousness.

Results

In MS patients, the incidence of IRRs was lowest with s.c. 20 mg (23.2%) vs all other effective doses. The majority (99.8%) of IRRs with s.c. 20 mg were Grade 1/2 in severity. Grade 3 IRRs were lower with s.c. 20 mg (0.2%) vs all other doses (1.6–18.2%). No drug interruptions were observed across s.c. doses while the drug was interrupted (paused and restarted) in 41.7–72.7% patients with i.v. doses. A lower proportion of patients withdrew treatment with s.c. 20 mg (0.1%) vs other doses (1.6–6.7%). Serious IRRs were low with s.c. 20 mg (0.1%) vs 60 mg doses (q12w, 2.9%; q4w, 3.1%); none were reported with all other doses. Two serious IRRs (of 1873 patients) with s.c. 20 mg occurred at first injection, resolved without treatment withdrawal and with no recurrences. Cytokine release syndrome was reported in 3 patients (s.c. 60 mg q12w, n=1 [hospitalized for observation]; i.v. 300 mg, n=2 [non-serious]). In RA patients, the incidence of IRRs was higher with i.v. 1000 mg (at first infusion: 71.9%), vs 300 mg (55.7%) and 700 mg (36.9%). The majority of IRRs were Grade 1/2 in severity (95.2%), non-serious (96.9%) and subsided with treatment; 8.4% discontinued treatment due to IRRs.

Conclusions

Ofatumumab 20 mg s.c. was well tolerated compared to higher s.c. and i.v. doses. IRRs were predominant with first injection and similar to matching-placebo with subsequent injections. Most IRRs were non-serious and mild-to-moderate in severity. The IRRs were manageable with low withdrawal rate and recovered with symptomatic treatment, even in absence of premedication. For MS, low dose s.c. injections have a better tolerability profile with higher compliance.