Key clinical point: Long-term exposure to fingolimod is associated with lower disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).
Major finding: The high ( ≥8 years) vs. low (<8 years) exposure groups showed a smaller increase in the mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (+0.55 vs. +1.21) and lower frequencies of disability progression (34.7% vs. 56.1%; P less than .01) and wheelchair use (4.9% vs. 16.9%; P less than .0276) at 10 years.
Study details: ACROSS was a cross-sectional follow-up study of patients with relapsing MS enrolled in a phase 2 proof-of-concept study. Disability outcomes were assessed in patients grouped as per fingolimod exposure: high exposure (n=104) and low exposure (n=71).
Disclosures: The study was funded by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. Amin Azmon and Davorka Tomic are employees of Novartis. The other authors reported relationships with multiple pharmaceutical companies.
Citation: Derfuss T et al. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2020 Mar 30. doi: 10.1177/2055217320907951 .