Key clinical point : Plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) could serve as an effective biomarker for identifying disability progression and monitoring treatment response in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS).
Major finding: High vs. low pNfL levels increased the risk for 3-month confirmed disability progression (CDP) by 32% ( P = .0055) and 49% ( P = .0268) and 6-month CDP by 26% ( P = .0417) and 48% ( P = .0431) in patients with secondary PMS (SPMS) and primary PMS (PPMS), respectively. pNfL levels were lower in patients treated with siponimod or fingolimod vs. placebo.
Study details: This was a post hoc analysis of EXPAND and INFORMS studies including 1452 and 378 patients with SPMS and PPMS, respectively, who received siponimod, fingolimod, or placebo .
Disclosures: This study was funded by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. Some authors, including the lead author, reported being current or former employees of Novartis Pharma AG and some authors reported serving on advisory boards or receiving grants, speaker honoraria, lecture fees, or consulting fees from various sources, including Novartis Pharma AG.
Source: Leppert D et al. blood neurofilament light in progressive multiple sclerosis: Post hoc analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials. Neurology. 2022 (Apr 4). Doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200258