Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis was less frequent when treatment was initiated with fingolimod, natalizumab, or alemtuzumab within 5 years of disease onset.
To compare rates of conversion from relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) among patients on injectable therapies, those on no therapy, and those on highly effective therapies, investigators assessed prospectively collected data on more than 44,000 RRMS patients. After excluding patients with <4 years of follow-up, 9452 patients were eligible for matching (based on age, sex, relapse rate, disability score, and disease duration), including 57 who received only alemtuzumab, 100 who received only natalizumab, 88 who received only fingolimod, 3715 who received only an injectable, and 275 who were untreated.
Compared with no therapy, conversion to SPMS was 29% lower with injectable therapies (glatiramer a…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAlexion Pharmaceuticals; Amgen; Astoria; Biogen; Bristol Myers Squibb; Celltrion; Genentech; Hoffmann-La Roche; Genzyme; EMD Serono; Immpact-Bio; Immunic Therapeutics; Kyverna; Lundbeck; Novartis; Sandoz; TG Therapeutics
Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; U.S. Department of Defense
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesConsortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (Treasurer)
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAlexion Pharmaceuticals; Amgen; Astoria; Biogen; Bristol Myers Squibb; Celltrion; Genentech; Hoffmann-La Roche; Genzyme; EMD Serono; Immpact-Bio; Immunic Therapeutics; Kyverna; Lundbeck; Novartis; Sandoz; TG Therapeutics
Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; U.S. Department of Defense
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesConsortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (Treasurer)