MS Briefs

Key clinical point: Ibudilast’s treatment effect in a phase 2 trial for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) primarily was driven by patients with primary progressive MS.

Major finding: The rate of brain atrophy for untreated patients with primary progressive MS was about twice as fast as that for those with secondary progressive MS.

Study details: The randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 SPRINT-MS trial of ibudilast included 134 patients with primary progressive MS and 121 with secondary progressive MS.

Disclosures: The SPRINT-MS trial was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and MediciNova also supported the study. Dr. Goodman reported receiving research support from pharmaceutical companies, as well as personal compensation from companies for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, and speaking.

Citation: Goodman A et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S12.007.

Key clinical point: Ibudilast’s treatment effect in a phase 2 trial for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) primarily was driven by patients with primary progressive MS.

Major finding: The rate of brain atrophy for untreated patients with primary progressive MS was about twice as fast as that for those with secondary progressive MS.

Study details: The randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 SPRINT-MS trial of ibudilast included 134 patients with primary progressive MS and 121 with secondary progressive MS.

Disclosures: The SPRINT-MS trial was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and MediciNova also supported the study. Dr. Goodman reported receiving research support from pharmaceutical companies, as well as personal compensation from companies for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, and speaking.

Citation: Goodman A et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S12.007.

Key clinical point: Ibudilast’s treatment effect in a phase 2 trial for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) primarily was driven by patients with primary progressive MS.

Major finding: The rate of brain atrophy for untreated patients with primary progressive MS was about twice as fast as that for those with secondary progressive MS.

Study details: The randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 SPRINT-MS trial of ibudilast included 134 patients with primary progressive MS and 121 with secondary progressive MS.

Disclosures: The SPRINT-MS trial was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and MediciNova also supported the study. Dr. Goodman reported receiving research support from pharmaceutical companies, as well as personal compensation from companies for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, and speaking.

Citation: Goodman A et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S12.007.

Key clinical point: Treatment with eculizumab substantially reduced risk of relapse versus placebo in patients with aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Major finding: Time to first adjudicated relapse on trial, the primary endpoint of the study, showed a significant (P less than .0001) effect in favor of monoclonal antibody treatment over placebo, with a 94.2% reduction in risk of relapse.

Study details: A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial (PREVENT) including 143 adult patients.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Pittock provided disclosures related to Alexion Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune, and Grifols, along with patents related to administration of eculizumab and cancer markers in neuromyelitis optica.

Citation: Pittock SJ et al. AAN 2019, Emerging Science Abstract 009.

Key clinical point: Treatment with eculizumab substantially reduced risk of relapse versus placebo in patients with aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Major finding: Time to first adjudicated relapse on trial, the primary endpoint of the study, showed a significant (P less than .0001) effect in favor of monoclonal antibody treatment over placebo, with a 94.2% reduction in risk of relapse.

Study details: A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial (PREVENT) including 143 adult patients.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Pittock provided disclosures related to Alexion Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune, and Grifols, along with patents related to administration of eculizumab and cancer markers in neuromyelitis optica.

Citation: Pittock SJ et al. AAN 2019, Emerging Science Abstract 009.

Key clinical point: Treatment with eculizumab substantially reduced risk of relapse versus placebo in patients with aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Major finding: Time to first adjudicated relapse on trial, the primary endpoint of the study, showed a significant (P less than .0001) effect in favor of monoclonal antibody treatment over placebo, with a 94.2% reduction in risk of relapse.

Study details: A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial (PREVENT) including 143 adult patients.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Pittock provided disclosures related to Alexion Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune, and Grifols, along with patents related to administration of eculizumab and cancer markers in neuromyelitis optica.

Citation: Pittock SJ et al. AAN 2019, Emerging Science Abstract 009.

Key clinical point: Physicians face considerable uncertainty regarding how to treat pediatric patients with MS.

Major finding: About 65% of pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis do not receive disease-modifying therapy within 1 year of diagnosis.

Study details: Retrospective, observational study of claims data from 288 patients with pediatric MS.

Disclosures: Novartis funded the study, and Dr. Deshpande, who presented the findings, and a coauthor are employees of Novartis. Other coauthors reported consulting fees from Novartis, as well as consulting fees and grant funding from other pharmaceutical companies.

Citation: Greenberg B et al. CMSC 2019, Abstract DXM02.

Key clinical point: Physicians face considerable uncertainty regarding how to treat pediatric patients with MS.

Major finding: About 65% of pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis do not receive disease-modifying therapy within 1 year of diagnosis.

Study details: Retrospective, observational study of claims data from 288 patients with pediatric MS.

Disclosures: Novartis funded the study, and Dr. Deshpande, who presented the findings, and a coauthor are employees of Novartis. Other coauthors reported consulting fees from Novartis, as well as consulting fees and grant funding from other pharmaceutical companies.

Citation: Greenberg B et al. CMSC 2019, Abstract DXM02.

Key clinical point: Physicians face considerable uncertainty regarding how to treat pediatric patients with MS.

Major finding: About 65% of pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis do not receive disease-modifying therapy within 1 year of diagnosis.

Study details: Retrospective, observational study of claims data from 288 patients with pediatric MS.

Disclosures: Novartis funded the study, and Dr. Deshpande, who presented the findings, and a coauthor are employees of Novartis. Other coauthors reported consulting fees from Novartis, as well as consulting fees and grant funding from other pharmaceutical companies.

Citation: Greenberg B et al. CMSC 2019, Abstract DXM02.

Key clinical point: Providers should consider screening for hazardous cannabis use, especially if patients report depression, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping.

Major finding: Patients with MS who are depressed, anxious, or have poor sleep may be more likely to misuse or abuse cannabis.

Study details: 100 patients with a confirmed MS diagnosis who were receiving outpatient care in a university-affiliated MS center.

Disclosures: No study funding was reported and the authors report no relevant disclosures.

Citation: REPORTING FROM CMSC 2019

Key clinical point: Providers should consider screening for hazardous cannabis use, especially if patients report depression, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping.

Major finding: Patients with MS who are depressed, anxious, or have poor sleep may be more likely to misuse or abuse cannabis.

Study details: 100 patients with a confirmed MS diagnosis who were receiving outpatient care in a university-affiliated MS center.

Disclosures: No study funding was reported and the authors report no relevant disclosures.

Citation: REPORTING FROM CMSC 2019

Key clinical point: Providers should consider screening for hazardous cannabis use, especially if patients report depression, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping.

Major finding: Patients with MS who are depressed, anxious, or have poor sleep may be more likely to misuse or abuse cannabis.

Study details: 100 patients with a confirmed MS diagnosis who were receiving outpatient care in a university-affiliated MS center.

Disclosures: No study funding was reported and the authors report no relevant disclosures.

Citation: REPORTING FROM CMSC 2019

Key clinical point: Lapses in the use of MS disease-modifying oral therapy increases the risk for relapse, hospitalization, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits, and leads to higher healthcare costs.

Major finding: Over an 18-month follow-up period, those with drug lapses of more than 60 days had 28% more relapses than did the other subjects (mean 1.2 vs. 0.8; P less than .0001).

Study details: A claims database study of 8,779 patients with MS during 2011-2015

Disclosures: EMD Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, provided funding for the study. Dr. Nicholas disclosed grant support from EMD Serono, and two other study authors are employees of the company. Another two authors worked for a consulting firm that received funding from EMD Serono to conduct the study.

Citation: REPORTING FROM CMSC 2019

Key clinical point: Lapses in the use of MS disease-modifying oral therapy increases the risk for relapse, hospitalization, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits, and leads to higher healthcare costs.

Major finding: Over an 18-month follow-up period, those with drug lapses of more than 60 days had 28% more relapses than did the other subjects (mean 1.2 vs. 0.8; P less than .0001).

Study details: A claims database study of 8,779 patients with MS during 2011-2015

Disclosures: EMD Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, provided funding for the study. Dr. Nicholas disclosed grant support from EMD Serono, and two other study authors are employees of the company. Another two authors worked for a consulting firm that received funding from EMD Serono to conduct the study.

Citation: REPORTING FROM CMSC 2019

Key clinical point: Lapses in the use of MS disease-modifying oral therapy increases the risk for relapse, hospitalization, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits, and leads to higher healthcare costs.

Major finding: Over an 18-month follow-up period, those with drug lapses of more than 60 days had 28% more relapses than did the other subjects (mean 1.2 vs. 0.8; P less than .0001).

Study details: A claims database study of 8,779 patients with MS during 2011-2015

Disclosures: EMD Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, provided funding for the study. Dr. Nicholas disclosed grant support from EMD Serono, and two other study authors are employees of the company. Another two authors worked for a consulting firm that received funding from EMD Serono to conduct the study.

Citation: REPORTING FROM CMSC 2019

Key clinical point: Adherence to current oral therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) is poor.

Major finding: Almost half of patients with MS discontinue their initial oral therapy.

Study details: A retrospective administrative claims study of 8,251 patients with MS.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for this study. Dr. Nicholas reported receiving grant support from EMD Serono.

Citation: Nicholas J et al. CMSC 2019. Abstract DXT34.

Key clinical point: Adherence to current oral therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) is poor.

Major finding: Almost half of patients with MS discontinue their initial oral therapy.

Study details: A retrospective administrative claims study of 8,251 patients with MS.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for this study. Dr. Nicholas reported receiving grant support from EMD Serono.

Citation: Nicholas J et al. CMSC 2019. Abstract DXT34.

Key clinical point: Adherence to current oral therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) is poor.

Major finding: Almost half of patients with MS discontinue their initial oral therapy.

Study details: A retrospective administrative claims study of 8,251 patients with MS.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for this study. Dr. Nicholas reported receiving grant support from EMD Serono.

Citation: Nicholas J et al. CMSC 2019. Abstract DXT34.

Key clinical point: Structural and functional network MRI measures predict long-term worsening in multiple sclerosis.

Major finding: The odds ratio of worsening for patients with abnormally high baseline resting state functional connectivity is 1.67.

Study details: A prospective imaging study of 233 patients with multiple sclerosis and 77 healthy controls.

Disclosures: Dr. Filippi has received research support from Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Teva, and Roche.

Citation: Filippi M et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S49.004.

Key clinical point: Structural and functional network MRI measures predict long-term worsening in multiple sclerosis.

Major finding: The odds ratio of worsening for patients with abnormally high baseline resting state functional connectivity is 1.67.

Study details: A prospective imaging study of 233 patients with multiple sclerosis and 77 healthy controls.

Disclosures: Dr. Filippi has received research support from Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Teva, and Roche.

Citation: Filippi M et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S49.004.

Key clinical point: Structural and functional network MRI measures predict long-term worsening in multiple sclerosis.

Major finding: The odds ratio of worsening for patients with abnormally high baseline resting state functional connectivity is 1.67.

Study details: A prospective imaging study of 233 patients with multiple sclerosis and 77 healthy controls.

Disclosures: Dr. Filippi has received research support from Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Teva, and Roche.

Citation: Filippi M et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S49.004.

Key clinical point: Among patients with multiple sclerosis, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may be associated with more severe disability.

Major finding: Patients in the top quartile of sugar-sweetened beverage intake had an average EDSS of 4.1 and patients in the bottom quartile had an average EDSS of 3.4.

Study details: Cross-sectional study of 135 patients with MS.

Disclosures: Dr. Meier-Gerdingh had no disclosures. Coauthors reported research support and personal compensation from pharmaceutical companies.

Citation: Meier-Gerdingh E et al. AAN 2019, Abstract P4.2-063.

Key clinical point: Among patients with multiple sclerosis, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may be associated with more severe disability.

Major finding: Patients in the top quartile of sugar-sweetened beverage intake had an average EDSS of 4.1 and patients in the bottom quartile had an average EDSS of 3.4.

Study details: Cross-sectional study of 135 patients with MS.

Disclosures: Dr. Meier-Gerdingh had no disclosures. Coauthors reported research support and personal compensation from pharmaceutical companies.

Citation: Meier-Gerdingh E et al. AAN 2019, Abstract P4.2-063.

Key clinical point: Among patients with multiple sclerosis, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may be associated with more severe disability.

Major finding: Patients in the top quartile of sugar-sweetened beverage intake had an average EDSS of 4.1 and patients in the bottom quartile had an average EDSS of 3.4.

Study details: Cross-sectional study of 135 patients with MS.

Disclosures: Dr. Meier-Gerdingh had no disclosures. Coauthors reported research support and personal compensation from pharmaceutical companies.

Citation: Meier-Gerdingh E et al. AAN 2019, Abstract P4.2-063.

Key clinical point: The relationship between vitamin D status and MS outcome in children relates to skin pigmentation.

Major finding: About 46% of children with MS were HLA-DRB1*15 positive.

Study details: A multisite, prospective study of 259 children with MS.

Disclosures: Ms. Dunn had no disclosures, but various coauthors have received compensation from companies such as Novartis, Merck, Teva, Celgene, and Genentech.

Citation: Dunn C et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S19.007.

Key clinical point: The relationship between vitamin D status and MS outcome in children relates to skin pigmentation.

Major finding: About 46% of children with MS were HLA-DRB1*15 positive.

Study details: A multisite, prospective study of 259 children with MS.

Disclosures: Ms. Dunn had no disclosures, but various coauthors have received compensation from companies such as Novartis, Merck, Teva, Celgene, and Genentech.

Citation: Dunn C et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S19.007.

Key clinical point: The relationship between vitamin D status and MS outcome in children relates to skin pigmentation.

Major finding: About 46% of children with MS were HLA-DRB1*15 positive.

Study details: A multisite, prospective study of 259 children with MS.

Disclosures: Ms. Dunn had no disclosures, but various coauthors have received compensation from companies such as Novartis, Merck, Teva, Celgene, and Genentech.

Citation: Dunn C et al. AAN 2019, Abstract S19.007.

Key clinical point: Adoptive transfer of donor-derived T cells represents a potentially life-saving strategy for patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Major finding: Seven of 12 patients stabilized and, in some cases, experienced significant neurological improvement.

Study details: A pilot study including 12 patients with refractory PML.

Disclosures: The study was funded by NINDS. The investigators disclosed no conflicts related to the study.

Citation: Cortese I et al. AAN 2019, Abstract Plen01.002.

Key clinical point: Adoptive transfer of donor-derived T cells represents a potentially life-saving strategy for patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Major finding: Seven of 12 patients stabilized and, in some cases, experienced significant neurological improvement.

Study details: A pilot study including 12 patients with refractory PML.

Disclosures: The study was funded by NINDS. The investigators disclosed no conflicts related to the study.

Citation: Cortese I et al. AAN 2019, Abstract Plen01.002.

Key clinical point: Adoptive transfer of donor-derived T cells represents a potentially life-saving strategy for patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Major finding: Seven of 12 patients stabilized and, in some cases, experienced significant neurological improvement.

Study details: A pilot study including 12 patients with refractory PML.

Disclosures: The study was funded by NINDS. The investigators disclosed no conflicts related to the study.

Citation: Cortese I et al. AAN 2019, Abstract Plen01.002.