Author Of 1 Presentation
FC02.02 - Update on the risk estimates of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy related to fingolimod
Abstract
Background
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a serious and potentially fatal complication of some multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies, including fingolimod. Precise estimates and risk stratification tools are not available for fingolimod-related PML.
Objectives
To estimate the global risk of PML in MS patients receiving fingolimod, and to investigate the effect of treatment duration and age on the risk of PML.
Methods
The number of PML cases identified from the manufacturer safety database, attributed to fingolimod by expert adjudication (based on criteria published by Berger et al. in 2014) as of 28 February 2020, was compared with the estimated global number of fingolimod-treated patients at risk (overall, by treatment duration, and by assumed age at fingolimod treatment initiation).
Results
It was estimated that approximately 299,600 patients were treated with fingolimod globally as of 28 February 2020, corresponding to >778,900 patient-years (PYs) of exposure. Of the 188 suspected PML cases reported during fingolimod treatment, 37 confirmed cases were clearly attributed to fingolimod through expert adjudication. In 17 cases, PML was attributed to previous natalizumab treatment. The remaining 134 cases either had inadequate information to confirm the diagnosis of PML or were classified as either possible or not PML. The estimated incidence rate was 4.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.34; 6.55) per 100,000 PYs. The estimated crude incidence was 0.12 (95% CI: 0.09–0.17) per 1,000 patients. The incidence of PML appears to increase with treatment duration and approach a plateau at approximately 0.13 per 1,000 patients during Year 5, after which data were scarce. Incidence of PML appears to increase between 30 and 50 years of age and then stabilize but the exact shape of the relationship with age is uncertain due to wide CIs, underlying assumptions, and other unknown confounding factors. For both treatment duration and age at treatment initiation, the precision of the incidence estimates was low due to the small number of cases.
Conclusions
PML risk associated with fingolimod is low. Although, the estimated risk of fingolimod-associated PML appears to increase with cumulative exposure, the precise pattern of this relationship remains uncertain. There may be an increase in PML risk with increased age at treatment initiation, although the exact pattern of this possible relationship is also uncertain.
Author Of 1 Presentation
P0236 - Serum immunoglobulin levels and infection risk in the Phase 3 trials of ofatumumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis (ID 1566)
Abstract
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.