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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system with a multifactorial aetiology and highly variable natural history. A growing understanding of the immunopathogenesis of the condition has led to an expanding array of therapies for this previously untreatable disease. While a cure for MS remains elusive, the potential to reduce inflammatory disease activity by preventing relapses and minimising disease progression is achievable. The importance of early treatment in minimising long-term disability is increasingly recognised. Most of the newer, more effective therapies are associated with risks and practical problems that necessitate an active management strategy and continuous vigilance. While the initiation of these therapies is likely to remain the responsibility of neurologists, other specialist physicians and general practitioners will be involved in the identification and management of adverse effects.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially life-changing immune mediated disease of the central nervous system. Until recently, treatment has been largely confined to acute treatment of relapses, symptomatic therapies and rehabilitation. Through persistent efforts of dedicated physicians and scientists around the globe for 160 years, a number of therapies that have an impact on the long term outcome of the disease have emerged over the past 20 years. In this three part series we review the practicalities, benefits and potential hazards of each of the currently available and emerging treatment options for MS. We pay particular attention to ways of abrogating the risks of these therapies and provide advice on the most appropriate indications for using individual therapies. In Part 1 we review the history of the development of MS therapies and its connection with the underlying immunobiology of the disease. The established therapies for MS are reviewed in detail and their current availability and indications in Australia and New Zealand are summarised. We examine the evidence to support their use in the treatment of MS., (Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this third and final part of our review of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment we look at the practical day-to-day management issues that are likely to influence individual treatment decisions. Whilst efficacy is clearly of considerable importance, tolerability and the potential for adverse effects often play a significant role in informing individual patient decisions. Here we review the issues surrounding switching between therapies, and the evidence to assist guiding the choice of therapy to change to and when to change. We review the current level of evidence with regards to the management of women in their child-bearing years with regards to recommendations about treatment during pregnancy and whilst breast feeding. We provide a summary of recommended pre- and post-treatment monitoring for the available therapies and review the evidence with regards to the value of testing for antibodies which are known to be neutralising for some therapies. We review the occurrence of adverse events, both the more common and troublesome effects and those that are less common but have potentially much more serious outcomes. Ways of mitigating these risks and managing the more troublesome adverse effects are also reviewed. Finally, we make specific recommendations with regards to the treatment of MS. It is an exciting time in the world of MS neurology and the prospects for further advances in coming years are high., (Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In Part 2 of this three part review of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment with a particular focus on the Australian and New Zealand perspective, we review the newer therapies that have recently become available and emerging therapies that have now completed phase III clinical trial programs. We go on to compare the relative efficacies of these newer and emerging therapies alongside the existing therapies. The effectiveness of β-interferon in the treatment of different stages and the different disease courses of MS is critically reviewed with the conclusion that the absolute level of response in term of annualised relapse rates (where relapses occur) and MRI activity are similar, but are disappointing in terms of sustained disability progression for progressive forms of the disease. Finally we review the controversial area of combination therapy for MS. Whilst it remains the case that we have no cure or means of preventing MS, we do have a range of effective therapies that when used appropriately and early in the disease course can have a significant impact on short term and longer term outcomes., (Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In the 2-year CARE-MS trials (NCT00530348; NCT00548405) in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, alemtuzumab showed superior efficacy versus subcutaneous interferon beta-1a. Efficacy was maintained in two consecutive extensions (NCT00930553; NCT02255656). This post hoc analysis compared disability outcomes over 9 years among alemtuzumab-treated patients according to whether they experienced confirmed disability improvement (CDI) or worsening (CDW) or neither CDI nor CDW. Methods: CARE-MS patients were randomized to receive two alemtuzumab courses (12 mg/day; 5 days at baseline; 3 days at 12 months), with additional as-needed 3-day courses in the extensions. CDI or CDW were defined as ≥ 1.0-point decrease or increase, respectively, in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score from core study baseline confirmed over 6 months, assessed in patients with baseline EDSS score ≥ 2.0. Improved or stable EDSS scores were defined as ≥ 1-point decrease or ≤ 0.5-point change (either direction), respectively, from core study baseline. Functional systems (FS) scores were also assessed. Results: Of 511 eligible patients, 43% experienced CDI and 34% experienced CDW at any time through year 9 (patients experiencing both CDI and CDW were counted in each individual group); 29% experienced neither CDI nor CDW. At year 9, patients with CDI had a −0.58-point mean EDSS score change from baseline; 88% had stable or improved EDSS scores. Improvements occurred across all FS, primarily in sensory, pyramidal, and cerebellar domains. Patients with CDW had a +1.71-point mean EDSS score change; 16% had stable or improved EDSS scores. Patients with neither CDI nor CDW had a −0.10-point mean EDSS score change; 98% had stable or improved EDSS scores. Conclusion: CDI achievement at any point during the CARE-MS studies was associated with improved disability at year 9, highlighting the potential of alemtuzumab to change the multiple sclerosis course. Conversely, CDW at any point was associated with worsened disability at year 9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the 2-year CARE-MS trials (trial registration: NCT00530348; NCT00548405), alemtuzumab (12 mg/day; baseline: 5 days; 12 months later: 3 days) significantly improved clinical/magnetic resonance imaging outcomes vs subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Efficacy in alemtuzumab-treated patients was maintained through year 9 in 2 consecutive extension studies (NCT00930553; NCT02255656 [TOPAZ]). Objectives: To evaluate the status of disability over 9 years in pooled CARE-MS patients who had either 6-month confirmed disability improvement (CDI) or 6-month confirmed disability worsening (CDW) by years 2 or 9. Methods: Alemtuzumab-treated CARE-MS patients with baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≥2 were stratified into 3 subgroups: with CDI, with CDW, or with stable disability. CDI and CDW were defined as ≥1-point decrease and increase, respectively, in EDSS score from core study baseline confirmed over 6 months. Improved and stable EDSS scores each year were defined as ≥1-point decrease and ≤0.5-point change in either direction, respectively, from core study baseline in available patients. Results: 511/811 (63%) alemtuzumab-treated patients had baseline EDSS score ≥2. Of these, 222 (43%) patients had 365 unique CDI events and 172 (34%) patients had 217 CDW events at any time during the 9-year study; 31 (6%) had both CDI and CDW. Few patients (n = 12) had a CDW event after CDI. Of patients with CDI at any time over 9 years, mean EDSS score change was --0.58 at year 9 vs core study baseline, and 51% had lower EDSS scores at year 9. Similar EDSS outcomes were observed at year 9 in the subset of patients who achieved CDI within the first 2 years of the study. However, patients with CDW any time over 9 years had worsened disability at year 9, with a +1.71 mean change in EDSS score from core study baseline; patients with CDW in the first 2 years of the study had a +2.27 EDSS score change by year 9. EDSS scores remained stable at 9 years (mean change, --0.10) in the 148 (29%) patients who had neither CDI nor CDW. Compared with previous years, no new safety signals were identified in year 9 in CARE-MS extension study patients. Conclusions: Achievement of CDI at any point in the CARE-MS studies was associated with improved disability at year 9 vs baseline. However, those with CDW had increased disability over 9 years regardless of when worsening occurred. These findings suggest that both CDI and CDW are meaningful end points for predicting long-term disability outcomes in patients with RRMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In CARE-MS I and II (trial registration: NCT00530348, NCT00548405), alemtuzumab treatment (12 mg/day; baseline: 5 days; 12 months later: 3 days) improved clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes vs subcutaneous interferon beta-1a over 2 years in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2 consecutive extensions (NCT00930553, NCT02255656 [TOPAZ]), patients could receive additional alemtuzumab (12 mg/day; 3 days; ≥12 months apart). Objectives: Evaluate yearly efficacy and safety of alemtuzumab in pooled CARE-MS patients who did or did not receive additional alemtuzumab through year 9. Methods: Pooled CARE-MS patients were stratified by the total number of courses received (exactly 2 courses, exactly 3 courses, ≥4 courses). Inclusion criteria: additional alemtuzumab (ie, courses 3 or 4) received by month 97 to allow ≥12 months of follow-up; no other disease-modifying therapy through year 9. Data were censored at course 5 (if received) in the ≥4 courses group. Outcomes data were rebaselined after the last alemtuzumab course. Results: 742/811 (91%) alemtuzumab-treated patients entered the extension and could receive additional courses; courses 3 and 4 were given most frequently in years 3 (19%) and 4 (6%), respectively. Of 742 extension patients, 359 (48%), 148 (20%), and 121 (16%) were included in the 2-, 3-, and ≥4-courses groups, with 303, 76, and 15 remaining on study in year 4 after last course, respectively. Over 4 years after last course, annualized relapse rate was 0.07, 0.08, and 0.23 in the 2-, 3-, and ≥4-courses groups, respectively, and change in mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score at year 4 vs after last course was -0.06, +0.08, and +0.56, respectively. Over 4 years, 83%, 85%, and 94% were free of 6-month confirmed disability worsening, and 23%, 11%, and 15% had 6-month confirmed disability improvement in the 2-, 3-, and ≥4-courses groups, respectively. In year 4, 78%, 73%, and 69% were free of MRI disease activity. Serious adverse events were generally similar between cohorts during years 1-3 after last treatment (5.1%-11.4% per year), but low patient numbers in the ≥4-courses group confounded analysis of serious adverse events in year 4 after last course. Conclusions: Efficacy of additional alemtuzumab was maintained over 4 years after last course in CARE-MS patients, although the ≥4-courses group had higher disease activity and disability, as expected. Alemtuzumab safety was generally consistent between groups, except for the ≥4-courses cohort in year 4 after last course wherein interpretation was limited by low numbers of available patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]