Encouraging results
AHSCT is highly effective at temporarily eliminating inflammation in the central nervous system, according to Jeffrey Cohen, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, and Anne Cross, MD, professor of neurology at Washington University, St. Louis, who wrote an editorial that accompanied the study. As many as 35% of patients require DMTs at some point after AHSCT.
The results of the new study are encouraging, but plenty of unanswered questions remain, Dr. Cohen said. “Many studies demonstrate AHSCT to have potent durable efficacy that appears to be greater than that of the available DMTs, but some studies – for example, this one – suggest that AHSCT may be superior to some but not all DMTs. Therefore, where to place AHSCT in the overall treatment sequence remains uncertain.” Randomized, controlled trials that are now in process “hopefully will clarify,” he added.
The study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Multiple Sclerosis Australia, and the MS Foundation of Canada. Dr. Kalincik has financial relationships with Eisai, Novartis, Biogen, Merck, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Teva, Celgene, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Janssen. Dr. Freedman has financial relationships with Sanofi-Genzyme Canada, Alexion, Atara Biotherapeutics, Bayer Healthcare, Beigene, BMS (Celgene), EMD, Hoffmann-La Roche, Janssen, Merck Serono, Quanterix, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva Canada Innovation, Celestra Health, McKesson, and EMD Serono. Dr. Cohen has financial relationships with Biogen, Convelo, EMD Serono, Gossamer Bio, Mylan, and PSI.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.