Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Part of Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

Author Of 1 Presentation

Clinical Outcome Measures Poster Presentation

P0071 - Effect of oral ponesimod on clinical disease activity and MRI-based outcomes in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: Phase 3 OPTIMUM study (ID 1570)

Abstract

Background

Ponesimod (PON), an orally active, highly selective and reversible modulator of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1, reduces circulating lymphocytes by sequestration in lymphoid organs. In the phase-3 OPTIMUM study (NCT02425644), PON showed superior efficacy vs teriflunomide (TER) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).

Objectives

To evaluate prespecified MRI-based endpoints and no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) status in patients with RMS.

Methods

Patients (18-55 years) with RMS (expanded disability status scale scores: 0-5.5) were randomized (1:1) to receive PON 20 mg or TER 14 mg for 108 weeks. MRI endpoints included: percentage change from baseline to week 108 in brain volume (SIENA, Structural Image Evaluation, using Normalization of Atrophy), mean number of new gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 lesions and volume/count of new/enlarging T2-weighted (T2) lesions. NEDA-3 (absence of confirmed relapse, 12-week confirmed disability accumulation, Gd+T1 and new/enlarging T2 lesions on annual MRIs) and NEDA-4 status (NEDA-3 and no average annual brain volume decrease ≥0.4%) were evaluated from baseline to week 108.

Results

985/1133 (86.9%) randomized patients completed the study. MRI findings for PON vs TER from baseline to week 108, respectively, were: least square (LS) mean percent change from baseline in brain volume: −0.91% vs −1.25% (difference: 0.34%, 95% CLs: 0.17;0.50, p<0.0001); LS mean difference (PON−TER) in change from baseline in total T2 lesion load: −399.2 mm3 (95% CLs: −651.5;−146.8, p=0.002); mean number of new/enlarging T2 lesions per year: 1.40 vs 3.16 (rate ratio [RR]: 0.44, 95% CLs: 0.36;0.54, p<0.0001); PON vs TER odds ratio (OR [95% CL]) for absence of new/enlarging T2 lesions: 1.71 (1.30;2.25, p=0.0001); mean number of new Gd+T1 lesions per scan: 0.18 vs 0.43 (RR: 0.42, 95% CLs: 0.31;0.56, p<0.0001); PON vs TER (OR [95% CL]) for absence of new Gd+T1 lesions: 2.18 (1.61;2.95, p<0.0001). At week 108, 28.2% (159/564) PON vs 18.3% (102/558) TER patients (OR: 1.70, 95% CLs: 1.27;2.28, p=0.0004) achieved NEDA-3; 15.0% (79/526) PON vs 8.5% (45/532) TER patients (OR: 1.85, 95% CLs: 1.24;2.76, p=0.0026) achieved NEDA-4. The most common reason for not achieving NEDA-3 or NEDA-4 status was presence of new/enlarging T2 lesions.

Conclusions

PON showed benefit vs TER for all MRI outcomes including brain volume loss and a significantly higher proportion of patients achieved NEDA-3 and NEDA-4 status, supporting the effects observed on clinical endpoints.

Collapse