Conference Coverage
VIDEO: Alemtuzumab associated with long-term MS control in TOPAZ study
SAN DIEGO – Extension study reveals durable benefit at 7 years.
“Perhaps for me what makes even more sense is looking at the yearly brain parenchymal fraction change,” Dr. Pelletier said, noting that the median annual reductions in years 1-5, respectively, were 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.15%, 0.14%, and 0.08%, compared with –0.33% for subcutaneous IFNB-1a at year 2 in CARE-MS II. The median brain parenchymal fraction change from baseline to post-alemtuzumab year 5 was –1.40%.
In 61% of patients, no further treatment was given after the second course of alemtuzumab.
The findings suggest that alemtuzumab provides durable efficacy without continuous treatment, he concluded.
This study was supported by Sanofi and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Pelletier has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi, as well as research support from Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi.
SOURCE: Pelletier D et al. Neurology. 2018 Apr 10. 90(15 Suppl.):P5.031.