Real-World Effectiveness of Initial MS Therapies in Children

Investigators from the U.S. Network of Pediatric MS Centers used data from 12 clinics to retrospectively assess the long-term effectiveness of injectable disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in comparison with newer agents as initial treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS). The newer agents included fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, natalizumab, rituximab, and ocrelizumab. Propensity scores were used to minimize baseline differences among the 741 children available for study. Injectable DMTs were initially used in 544, and newer DMTs in 197. Mean follow-up on initial DMT was 1.7 years.

Relapses occurred in 19% on an oral or infused DMT, versus 43% on an injectable. Compared with injectables, oral agents reduced relapses by 48%; anti…