Dimethyl Fumarate vs. Interferon β-1a for Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Currently, only fingolimod is indicated for pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), although several therapies approved for adult MS patients — including dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and interferon β — are used off-label for these patients. Now, investigators have conducted a 96-week, randomized, open-label, rater-blinded trial (CONNECT) to compare the efficacy and safety of DMF versus interferon β-1a in 150 pediatric patients with MS (aged 10–17 years; 67% female). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with no new or enlarging T2 hyperintense lesions.

Of the 103 patients who completed the trial, more patients who received DMF were free of new or enlarging lesions than were those treated with interferon β-1a (16% vs. 5%; re…