Search

Background: the prognostic significance of non-disabling relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is unclear. Objective: to determine whether early non-disabling relapses predict disability accumulation in RRMS. Methods: we redefined mild relapses in MSBase as 'non-disabling', and moderate or severe relapses as 'disabling'. We used mixed-effects Cox models to compare 90-day confirmed disability accumulation events in people with exclusively non-disabling relapses within 2 years of RRMS diagnosis to those with no early relapses; and any early disabling relapses. Analyses were stratified by disease-modifying therapy (DMT) efficacy during follow-up. Results: people who experienced non-disabling relapses within 2 years of RRMS diagnosis accumulated more disability than those with no early relapses if they were untreated (n = 285 vs 4717; hazard ratio (HR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.00-1.68) or given platform DMTs (n = 1074 vs 7262; HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.15-1.54), but not if given high-efficacy DMTs (n = 572 vs 3534; HR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.71-1.13) during follow-up. Differences in disability accumulation between those with early non-disabling relapses and those with early disabling relapses were not confirmed statistically. Conclusion: this study suggests that early non-disabling relapses are associated with a higher risk of disability accumulation than no early relapses in RRMS. This risk may be mitigated by high-efficacy DMTs. Therefore, non-disabling relapses should be considered when making treatment decisions., The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was financially supported by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (fellowship nos.1140766 and 1080518, project grant nos. 1129189 and 1083539), the University of Melbourne (Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences research fellowship), National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK) Advanced Fellowship (grant no. 301728; recipient JWLB) and Academic Clinical Fellowship (grant no. EAN/ACA-006/7488627/C; recipient CD). The MSBase Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that receives support from Roche, Merck, Biogen, Novartis, Bayer Schering, Sanofi Genzyme, and Teva. Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the University of Melbourne and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK) had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with a lifetime risk of one in 350 people and an unmet need for disease-modifying therapies. We conducted a cross-ancestry genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 29,612 patients with ALS and 122,656 controls, which identified 15 risk loci. When combined with 8,953 individuals with whole-genome sequencing (6,538 patients, 2,415 controls) and a large cortex-derived expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) dataset (MetaBrain), analyses revealed locus-specific genetic architectures in which we prioritized genes either through rare variants, short tandem repeats or regulatory effects. ALS-associated risk loci were shared with multiple traits within the neurodegenerative spectrum but with distinct enrichment patterns across brain regions and cell types. Of the environmental and lifestyle risk factors obtained from the literature, Mendelian randomization analyses indicated a causal role for high cholesterol levels. The combination of all ALS-associated signals reveals a role for perturbations in vesicle-mediated transport and autophagy and provides evidence for cell-autonomous disease initiation in glutamatergic neurons.

Background and purpose: The prevention of disability over the long term is the main treatment goal in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, randomized clinical trials evaluate only short-term treatment effects on disability. This study aimed to define criteria for 6-month confirmed disability progression events of MS with a high probability of resulting in sustained long-term disability worsening. Method(s): In total, 14,802 6-month confirmed disability progression events were identified in 8741 patients from the global MSBase registry. For each 6-month confirmed progression event (13,321 in the development and 1481 in the validation cohort), a sustained progression score was calculated based on the demographic and clinical characteristics at the time of progression that were predictive of long-term disability worsening. The score was externally validated in the Cladribine Tablets Treating Multiple Sclerosis Orally (CLARITY) trial. Result(s): The score was based on age, sex, MS phenotype, relapse activity, disability score and its change from baseline, number of affected functional system domains and worsening in six of the domains. In the internal validation cohort, a 61% lower chance of improvement was estimated with each unit increase in the score (hazard ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.52; discriminatory index 0.89). The proportions of progression events sustained at 5 years stratified by the score were 1: 72%; 2: 88%; 3: 94%; 4: 100%. The results of the CLARITY trial were confirmed for reduction of disability progression that was >88% likely to be sustained (events with score >1.5). Conclusion(s): Clinicodemographic characteristics of 6-month confirmed disability progression events identify those at high risk of sustained long-term disability. This knowledge will allow future trials to better assess the effect of therapy on long-term disability accrual.Copyright © 2022 The Authors. European Journal of Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behal

Background and purpose The prevention of disability over the long term is the main treatment goal in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, randomized clinical trials evaluate only short-term treatment effects on disability. This study aimed to define criteria for 6-month confirmed disability progression events of MS with a high probability of resulting in sustained long-term disability worsening. Methods In total, 14,802 6-month confirmed disability progression events were identified in 8741 patients from the global MSBase registry. For each 6-month confirmed progression event (13,321 in the development and 1481 in the validation cohort), a sustained progression score was calculated based on the demographic and clinical characteristics at the time of progression that were predictive of long-term disability worsening. The score was externally validated in the Cladribine Tablets Treating Multiple Sclerosis Orally (CLARITY) trial. Results The score was based on age, sex, MS phenotype, relapse activity, disability score and its change from baseline, number of affected functional system domains and worsening in six of the domains. In the internal validation cohort, a 61% lower chance of improvement was estimated with each unit increase in the score (hazard ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.29–0.52; discriminatory index 0.89). The proportions of progression events sustained at 5 years stratified by the score were 1: 72%; 2: 88%; 3: 94%; 4: 100%. The results of the CLARITY trial were confirmed for reduction of disability progression that was >88% likely to be sustained (events with score ˃1.5). Conclusions Clinicodemographic characteristics of 6-month confirmed disability progression events identify those at high risk of sustained long-term disability. This knowledge will allow future trials to better assess the effect of therapy on long-term disability accrual.

BACKGROUND: Natalizumab and fingolimod are used as high-efficacy treatments in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Several observational studies comparing these two drugs have shown variable results, using different methods to control treatment indication bias and manage censoring. The objective of this empirical study was to elucidate the impact of methods of causal inference on the results of comparative effectiveness studies. METHODS: Data from three observational multiple sclerosis registries (MSBase, the Danish MS Registry and French OFSEP registry) were combined. Four clinical outcomes were studied. Propensity scores were used to match or weigh the compared groups, allowing for estimating average treatment effect for treated or average treatment effect for the entire population. Analyses were conducted both in intention-to-treat and per-protocol frameworks. The impact of the positivity assumption was also assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 5,148 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients were included. In this well-powered sample, the 95% confidence intervals of the estimates overlapped widely. Propensity scores weighting and propensity scores matching procedures led to consistent results. Some differences were observed between average treatment effect for the entire population and average treatment effect for treated estimates. Intention-to-treat analyses were more conservative than per-protocol analyses. The most pronounced irregularities in outcomes and propensity scores were introduced by violation of the positivity assumption. CONCLUSIONS: This applied study elucidates the influence of methodological decisions on the results of comparative effectiveness studies of treatments for multiple sclerosis. According to our results, there are no material differences between conclusions obtained with propensity scores matching or propensity scores weighting given that a study is sufficiently powered, models are correctly specified and positivity assumption is ful

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The prevention of disability over the long term is the main treatment goal in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, randomized clinical trials evaluate only short-term treatment effects on disability. This study aimed to define criteria for 6-month confirmed disability progression events of MS with a high probability of resulting in sustained long-term disability worsening. METHODS: In total, 14,802 6-month confirmed disability progression events were identified in 8741 patients from the global MSBase registry. For each 6-month confirmed progression event (13,321 in the development and 1481 in the validation cohort), a sustained progression score was calculated based on the demographic and clinical characteristics at the time of progression that were predictive of long-term disability worsening. The score was externally validated in the Cladribine Tablets Treating Multiple Sclerosis Orally (CLARITY) trial. RESULTS: The score was based on age, sex, MS phenotype, relapse activity, disability score and its change from baseline, number of affected functional system domains and worsening in six of the domains. In the internal validation cohort, a 61% lower chance of improvement was estimated with each unit increase in the score (hazard ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.52; discriminatory index 0.89). The proportions of progression events sustained at 5 years stratified by the score were 1: 72%; 2: 88%; 3: 94%; 4: 100%. The results of the CLARITY trial were confirmed for reduction of disability progression that was >88% likely to be sustained (events with score ˃1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Clinicodemographic characteristics of 6-month confirmed disability progression events identify those at high risk of sustained long-term disability. This knowledge will allow future trials to better assess the effect of therapy on long-term disability accrual.

Background: Natalizumab and fingolimod are used as high-efficacy treatments in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. Several observational studies comparing these two drugs have shown variable results, using different methods to control treatment indication bias and manage censoring. The objective of this empirical study was to elucidate the impact of methods of causal inference on the results of comparative effectiveness studies. Methods: Data from three observational multiple sclerosis registries (MSBase, the Danish MS Registry and French OFSEP registry) were combined. Four clinical outcomes were studied. Propensity scores were used to match or weigh the compared groups, allowing for estimating average treatment effect for treated or average treatment effect for the entire population. Analyses were conducted both in intention-to-treat and per-protocol frameworks. The impact of the positivity assumption was also assessed. Results: Overall, 5,148 relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients were included. In this well-powered sample, the 95% confidence intervals of the estimates overlapped widely. Propensity scores weighting and propensity scores matching procedures led to consistent results. Some differences were observed between average treatment effect for the entire population and average treatment effect for treated estimates. Intention-to-treat analyses were more conservative than per-protocol analyses. The most pronounced irregularities in outcomes and propensity scores were introduced by violation of the positivity assumption. Conclusions: This applied study elucidates the influence of methodological decisions on the results of comparative effectiveness studies of treatments for multiple sclerosis. According to our results, there are no material differences between conclusions obtained with propensity scores matching or propensity scores weighting given that a study is sufficiently powered, models are correctly specified and positivity assumption is

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that immunotherapy prevents long-term disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), we modeled disability outcomes in 14,717 patients. METHODS: We studied patients from MSBase followed for ≥1 year, with ≥3 visits, ≥1 visit per year, and exposed to MS therapy, and a subset of patients with ≥15-year follow-up. Marginal structural models were used to compare the cumulative hazards of 12-month confirmed increase and decrease in disability, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) step 6, and the incidence of relapses between treated and untreated periods. Marginal structural models were continuously readjusted for patient age, sex, pregnancy, date, disease course, time from first symptom, prior relapse history, disability, and MRI activity. RESULTS: A total of 14,717 patients were studied. During the treated periods, patients were less likely to experience relapses (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43-0.82, p = 0.0016), worsening of disability (0.56, 0.38-0.82, p = 0.0026), and progress to EDSS step 6 (0.33, 0.19-0.59, p = 0.00019). Among 1,085 patients with ≥15-year follow-up, the treated patients were less likely to experience relapses (0.59, 0.50-0.70, p = 10-9) and worsening of disability (0.81, 0.67-0.99, p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Continued treatment with MS immunotherapies reduces disability accrual by 19%-44% (95% CI 1%-62%), the risk of need of a walking aid by 67% (95% CI 41%-81%), and the frequency of relapses by 40-41% (95% CI 18%-57%) over 15 years. This study provides evidence that disease-modifying therapies are effective in improving disability outcomes in relapsing-remitting MS over the long term. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that, for patients with relapsing-remitting MS, long-term exposure to immunotherapy prevents neurologic disability.

Objective: We analysed the cladribine treatment experience in the MSBase registry. We described baseline characteristics, treatment pathways, and relapse and discontinuation outcomes in patients with >=6 months follow-up data from cladribine initiation. Background(s): Cladribine tablets are approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in many jurisdictions. Real-world outcomes data is very limited. Design/Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis using MSBase Registry data of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS and newly treated with cladribine tablets after regulatory approval. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse baseline patient characteristics recorded With in 3 months prior to cladribine tablets initiation, including demographics, disease course and duration, prior disease modifying drugs (DMD), and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Result(s): As of the 4th June 2020, MSBase included 660 patients treated with cladribine from 9 countries, mainly from Australia and Europe. A total of 576 met all inclusion criteria. These included 496 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. In these, median age at cladribine tablets start was 45 years and median disease duration since clinically isolated syndrome was 12.6 years. Median EDSS at cladribine tablets start was 2.5. Around 13% of all RRMS patients initiated cladribine tablets as first line therapy. Of all RRMS patients switching to cladribine tablets with a treatment gap of <6 months, the most common immediate prior DMDs were fingolimod (17%), followed by natalizumab, teriflunomide and dimethylfumarate (all appx. 10%). Total follow-up time was 340 patient-years. Annualised relapse rate (ARR) on cladribine tablets was 0.12 (95%CI 0.09-0.17), compared to a pre-cladribine ARR of 0.38. Treatment persistence was 95% after 12 months (95%CI 91-98%), and 92% after 24 months (95%CI 87-96%). Conclusion(s): This study characterizes RRMS patients treated with cladribine tablets in a realworld clinic s

Background: Ocrelizumab (OCR) is a humanised anti-CD20+ monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), and relapsing forms of MS, including both relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) with relapses. Objective(s): In a real-world setting, to describe 1) baseline characteristics of patients with MS treated with OCR, 2) treatment pathway across lines of therapy up to initiation of OCR, and 3) initial clinical experience in patients with >=6 months follow-up data from OCR initiation. Method(s): Secondary data analysis using MSBase Registry data including patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS and started OCR therapy within 3 months prior to or at time of MSBase eligible/ initial visit. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline patient characteristics' recorded within 3 months of OCR initiation, including demographics, disease course and duration, prior disease modifying therapies (DMT), and EDSS. Occurrence of relapse was analyzed in patients with >=6 months follow-up data from OCR initiation. Result(s): As of 4th June 2020, MSBase included 2531 patients newly treated with OCR, of whom 1679 had an EDSS evaluation within 3 months of OCR start. There were 1185 patients with RRMS, 236 with SPMS, and 183 with PPMS. Median age at OCR initiation was 41.9 years, 49.5 years, to 50.1 years in RRMS, SPMS, and PPMS, respectively. Mean disease duration from symptom onset up to OCR initiation was longer in SPMS (19.7 years) than in RRMS (10.6 years) and PPMS (9.7 years). OCR was initiated as first line therapy in 17.5%, 5.5%, and 54.2% of RRMS, SPMS, and PPMS patients respectively. Most frequent previous DMT's in RRMS were fingolimod (25.7%) and natalizumab (23.5%). 693 patients with RRMS had >=6 months followup during OCR exposure. Of these, 643 remained relapse free (93%; 95% CI 86.0, 100.0) over a mean OCR exposure of 1.23 years. The annualized relapse rate (ARR) was 0.08 (95% CI 0.06- 0.10)

Background: Increasingly, people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are switched to highly effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) such as ocrelizumab. Objective(s): To determine predictors of relapse and disability progression when switching from another DMT to ocrelizumab. Method(s): Patients with RRMS who switched to ocrelizumab were identified from the MSBase Registry and grouped by prior disease-modifying therapy (pDMT; interferon-beta/glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, fingolimod or natalizumab) and washout duration (<1 month, 1-2 months or 2-6 months). Survival analyses including multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify predictors of on-ocrelizumab relapse within 1 year, and 6-month confirmed disability progression (CDP). Result(s): After adjustment, relapse hazard when switching from fingolimod was greater than other pDMTs, but only in the first 3 months of ocrelizumab therapy (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.57-11.11, p = 0.004). The adjusted hazard for CDP was significantly higher with longer washout (2-6 m compared to <1 m: HR = 9.57, 95% CI = 1.92-47.64, p = 0.006). Conclusion(s): The risk of disability worsening during switch to ocrelizumab is reduced by short treatment gaps. Patients who cease fingolimod are at heightened relapse risk in the first 3 months on ocrelizumab. Prospective evaluation of strategies such as washout reduction may help optimise this switch.Copyright © The Author(s), 2021.

Background: Our current understanding of demographic and clinical modifiers of the effectiveness of multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies is limited. Objective(s): To assess whether patients' response to disease modifying therapies (DMT) in MS varies by disease activity (annualised relapse rate, presence of new MRI lesions), disability, age, MS duration or disease phenotype. Method(s): Using the international MSBase registry, we selected patients with MS followed for >=1 year, with >=3 visits, >=1 visit per year. Marginal structural models (MSMs) were used to compare the hazard ratios (HR) of 6-month confirmed worsening and improvement of disability (EDSS), and the incidence of relapses between treated and untreated periods. MSMs were continuously re-adjusted for patient age, sex, pregnancy, date, time from first symptom, prior relapse history, disability and MRI activity. Result(s): Among 23 687 patients with relapsing MS, those on DMT experienced 20% greater chance of disability improvement [HR 1.20 (95% CI 1.0-1.5)], 47% lower risk of disability worsening [HR 0.53 (0.39-0.71)] and 51% reduction in relapses [HR 0.49 (0.43-0.55)]. The effect of DMT on relapses and EDSS worsening was attenuated with longer MS duration and higher prior relapse rate. The effect of DMT on EDSS improvement and relapses was more evident in low EDSS categories. DMT was associated with 51% EDSS improvement in patients without new MRI lesions [HR 1.51 (1.00-2.28)] compared to 4% in those with MRI activity [HR 1.04 (0.88-1.24)]. Among 26329 participants with relapsing or progressive MS, DMT was associated with 25% reduction in EDSS worsening and 42% reduction in relapses in patients with relapsing MS [HR 0.75 (0.65-0.86) and HR 0.58 (CI 0.54-62), respectively], while evidence for such beneficial effects of treatment in patients with progressive MS was not found [HR 1.11 (0.91-1.46) and HR 1.16 (0.91-1.46), respectively]. Conclusion(s): DMTs are associated with reduction in relapse frequency, pro

Introduction: Ocrelizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeted against CD20+ B cells, has become a popular treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The effectiveness of ocrelizumab compared to other treatments is however unknown. Aim(s): To compare the effectiveness of ocrelizumab with interferon-beta, fingolimod and natalizumab in relapsing-remitting MS. Method(s): Using the MSBase registry, we identified patients with relapsing-remitting MS treated for >=6 months with ocrelizumab, interferon- beta (interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b subcutaneous or interferon beta-1b intramuscular), fingolimod or natalizumab. All patients required >12-month pre-treatment follow up and the minimum dataset. Patients with comparable baseline characteristics were matched with propensity score on age, sex, MS duration, EDSS, prior relapse rate, prior therapy, disease activity, MRI lesion burden (missing values imputed), reason for discontinuation of preceding therapy (imputed) and country. Annualised rate of relapses (ARR) and cumulative hazard of relapses were compared in pairwise-censored groups. Result(s): 106 patients treated with ocrelizumab were matched with 209 patients on interferon therapies with a mean age of 39 years, 0.8 relapses per year and mean EDSS of 2.4-2.5. Over a pairwise-censored mean follow up of 1.3 years, ocrelizumab was associated with lower relapse rates (ARR 0.08 vs 0.27, p<0.001) and lower risk of relapse (HR 0.30, 95%CI 0.15-0.57) than interferon-beta. 297 patients treated with ocrelizumab were matched with 811 fingolimod-treated patients with a mean age of 41 years, 0.6 relapses per year and mean EDSS of 2.7-2.8. Over a pairwisecensored mean follow up of 1.5 years, ocrelizumab was associated with lower relapse rates (ARR 0.03 vs 0.14, p<0.001) and lower risk of relapse than fingolimod (HR 0.21, 0.13-0.32). 262 ocrelizumab- treated patients were matched with 343 natalizumab treated patients with a mean age of 39 years, 0.8 relapses per year

Objective: To assess whether patients' response to disease modifying therapies (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) varies by disease activity (annualised relapse rate, presence of new MRI lesions), disability, age, MS duration or disease phenotype. Background(s): Our understanding of demographic and clinical modifiers of the effectiveness of MS therapies is limited. Design/Methods: Using the international MSBase registry, we selected patients with MS followed for >=1 year, with >=3 visits, >=1 visit per year. Marginal structural models were used to compare the hazard ratios (HR) of 6-month confirmed worsening and improvement of disability (EDSS), and the incidence of relapses between treated and untreated periods. Models were continuously re-adjusted for patient age, sex, pregnancy, date, time from first symptom, prior relapse history, disability and MRI activity. Result(s): Among 23687 patients with relapsing MS, those on DMTs experienced 48% reduction in relapse incidence [HR=0.52 (0.44-0.61)], 48% lower risk of disability worsening [HR=0.52 (0.38-0.71)] and 33% greater chance of disability improvement [HR=1.33 (95%CI 1.0-1.5)]. The effect of DMTs on EDSS worsening and improvement and the risk of relapses was attenuated with more severe disability. The effect of DMTs on reducing relapses declined with higher prior relapse rate and in patients with prior cerebral MRI activity. Among 26329 participants with relapsing or progressive MS, DMTs were associated with 25% reduction in EDSS worsening and 42% reduction in relapses in patients with relapsing MS [HR=0.75 (0.65-0.86) and HR=0.58 (0.54-62), respectively], while evidence for such beneficial effects of treatment in patients with progressive MS was not found [HR=1.11 (0.91-1.46) and HR=1.16 (0.91-1.46), respectively]. Conclusion(s): DMTs are associated with reduction in relapse frequency, progression of disability, and increased chance of recovery from disability. The DMTs are most effective among patients with lower

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between latitude of residence, ultraviolet B radiation exposure (UVB) and the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). Background(s): Severity of (MS) varies widely among individuals. Understanding of determinants of this heterogeneity will help clinicians optimize the management of MS in individual patients. Design/Methods: This observational study used the global MSBase registry. Disease severity was quantified with MS Severity Score (MSSS, a decile of disability relative to a normative cohort with similar disease duration). The latitude of each study center (stratified by hemisphere) and cumulative annualized UVB dose at study center (calculated from from NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) at ages 6 and 18 and the year of disability assessment were calculated. Quadratic regression was used to model the associations between latitude, UVB and MSSS. Result(s): 46,128 patients (70% women, mean age 39+/-12, resident between latitudes 19degree35' and 56degree16', cumulative follow-up 351,196 patient-years) were included. Latitude showed a non-linear association with MS severity. Above 40degree of latitude, more severe disease was associated with higher latitudes (beta= 0.08, 95%CI: 0.04, 0.12). For example, this translates into a mean difference of 1.3 points of MSSS between patients living in Madrid and Copenhagen. No such association was observed in latitudes <40degree (beta= 0.02, 95%CI: 0.06, 0.03). The overall disability accrual was faster in those with a lower level of estimated UVB exposure before the age of 6 (beta= 0.5, 95%CI: 0.6, 0.4) and 18 years (beta= 0.6, 95%CI: 0.7, 0.4) as well as with lower life-time UVB exposure at the time of disability assessment (beta= 1.0, 95%CI: 1.1, 0.9). Conclusion(s): In temperate zones, MS severity is associated with latitude. This association is mainly, but not exclusively, driven by UVB exposure. Thus, UVB exposure contributes to both MS susceptibility a

Background: Cladribine tablets are approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in many jurisdictions. Real-world outcomes data is very limited. Objective(s): We analysed the cladribine treatment experience in the MSBase registry. We described baseline characteristics, treatment pathways, and relapse and discontinuation outcomes in patients with >=6 months follow-up data from cladribine initiation. Method(s): We performed a secondary data analysis using MSBase Registry data of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS and newly treated with cladribine tablets after regulatory approval. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline patient characteristics recorded within 3 months prior to cladribine tablets initiation, including demographics, disease course and duration, prior disease modifying drugs (DMD), and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Result(s): As of the 4th June 2020, MSBase included 660 patients treated with cladribine from 9 countries, mainly from Australia and Europe. A total of 576 met all inclusion criteria. These included 496 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. In these, median age at cladribine tablets start was 45 years and median disease duration since clinically isolated syndrome was 12.6 years. Median EDSS at cladribine tablets start was 2.5. Around 13% of all RRMS patients initiated cladribine tablets as first line therapy. Of all RRMS patients switching to cladribine tablets with a treatment gap of <6 months, the most common immediate prior DMDs were fingolimod (17%), followed by natalizumab, teriflunomide and dimethylfumarate (all appx. 10%). Total follow- up time was 340 patient-years. Annualised relapse rate (ARR) on cladribine tablets was 0.12 (95%CI 0.09-0.17), compared to a pre-cladribine ARR of 0.38. Treatment persistence was 95% after 12 months (95%CI 91-98%), and 92% after 24 months (95%CI 87-96%). Conclusion(s): This study characterizes RRMS patients treated with cladribine tablets in a real-world clinic setti

Background: Some cohort studies have reported similar onset age and disability accrual in primary and secondary progressive MS (PPMS, SPMS); others have reported later onset and faster disability accrual in SPMS. Comparisons are complicated by differences in baseline disability and exposure to disease-modifying therapies (DMT), and by lack of a standardized definition of SPMS. Objective(s): We compared hazards of disability accrual in PPMS and SPMS patients from the MSBase cohort using multivariable Cox models, applying validated diagnostic criteria for SPMS (Lorscheider et al., Brain 2016). Method(s): Inclusion required adult-onset progressive MS; >= 3 recorded Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores; and, for SPMS, initial records with EDSS <= 3 to allow objective identification of SPMS conversion. Phenotypes were subgrouped as active (PPMS-A, SPMS-A) if >= 1 progressive-phase relapse was recorded, and inactive (PPMS-N, SPMS-N) otherwise. Disability accrual was defined by sustained EDSS increases confirmed over >= 6 months. Hazard ratios (HR) for disability accrual were obtained using Andersen-Gill Cox models, adjusted for sex and time-varying age, disability, visit frequency, and proportion of time on DMT or immunosuppressive therapy. Sensitivity analyses were performed using (1) PPMS and SPMS diagnosed since 1995, and (2) physician-diagnosed SPMS. Cumulative probability of reaching EDSS >= 7 (wheelchair required) was assessed (Kaplan-Meier). Result(s): 5461 patients were included (1257 PPMS-N; 1308 PPMS-A; 1731 SPMS-N; 1165 SPMS-A). Age at progression onset was older in SPMS than PPMS (47.2 +/- 10.2, vs. 41.5 +/- 10.7 [mean +/- SD]), and in the inactive subgroups of each phenotype. Hazard of disability accrual was decreased in SPMS relative to PPMS (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.78-0.92); decreased by proportion of time on DMT (HR 0.99 per 10% increment; 0.98-0.99); and higher in males (1.18; 1.12-1.25). Relative to PPMS-N, hazard was decreased in SPMS-A (0.79; 0.71

Introduction: People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) commonly switch between disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Identifying predictors of relapse outcomes when switching to more recently approved therapies such as cladribine could improve outcomes. Aim(s): This study aimed to characterise relapse activity and determine predictors of relapse occurrence in the first year of cladribine treatment, after switching from other DMTs. Method(s): We identified patients with RRMS from the MSBase Registry who switched to cladribine from five prior DMT groups (pDMT; interferon-beta/glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, fingolimod or natalizumab). Relapse occurrence during the washout and in the first year of cladribine were compared between pDMTs and washout duration groups (<1 month, 1-2 months, or 2-6 months). Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyse time to first relapse in the first year of cladribine therapy. Result(s): In a cohort of 333 patients with a mean washout duration of 43.1 days, 17 (5.1%) relapsed during the washout period and 24 (7.2%) relapsed within one year of starting cladribine. Of those who relapsed during their washout period, seven (41.2%) also relapsed on cladribine, compared to 5.4% of those who did not experience a washout relapse. In the adjusted survival model, relapse on cladribine was predicted by washout relapse (hazard ratio [HR]=7.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.48-34.88, p=0.015) and younger age (HR=0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99, p=0.038). Washout durations longer than two months increased relapse risk during the washout, but did not alter relapse risk on cladribine. There were no significant differences in relapse outcomes between pDMTs. Conclusion(s): Washout relapse and younger age are of prognostic relevance when switching to cladribine. Washout durations shorter than two months were associated with fewer washout relapses. Prospective studies are needed to assess if washout period red

Introduction: Cladribine tablets are approved for relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) treatment in many jurisdictions. MSBase investigators are committed to characterising real-world longitudinal treatment outcomes using this registry data. Objective(s): To describe cladribine treatment outcomes in the MSBase cohort. These include baseline characteristics, treatment pathways, discontinuation rate, and relapse outcomes. Method(s): We extracted from the MSBase registry data for all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS who were newly treated with cladribine tablets. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse baseline patient characteristics recorded within 3 months prior to cladribine tablets initiation, including demographics, disease course and duration, prior disease modifying drugs (DMD), and EDSS. Relapse and discontinuation outcomes were described in patients with a minimum 6 month observation period. Result(s): As of 3rd March 2021, a total of 782 patients, predominantly from Australia, Canada and Spain, were included. 696 were relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. The median age of cladribine tablet start was 43.8 years and median disease duration was 11.8 years. Median EDSS at cladribine initiation was 2 (IQR 1.5,4). 13.3% of all RRMS patients initiated cladribine as first line therapy. Of all RRMS patients switching to cladribine tablets with a treatment gap of <6 months, the most common immediate prior DMD was Fingolimod (15%), followed by Natalizumab (10%) and Teriflunomide (9.5%). Total follow-up time was 629 patientyears. Annualised relapse rate (ARR) on cladribine tablets was 0.11 (95% CI 0.09-0.14) compared to a 12-month pre-cladribine ARR of 0.41. Treatment persistence was 96% at 12 months (95% CI 0.94-0.98) and 90% after 24months (95% CI 0.85-0.94). Conclusion(s): The growing MSBase real-world cladribine cohort shows excellent outcomes to date. The most common switches to cladribine are from other high-efficacy DMTs such as Natalizumab or Fingo

BACKGROUND: Natalizumab and fingolimod were the first preparations recommended for disease breakthrough in priorly treated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Of three published head-to-head studies two showed that natalizumab is the more effective to prevent relapses and EDSS worsening. METHODS: By re-analyzing original published results from MSBase, France, and Denmark using uniform methodologies, we aimed at identifying the effects of differences in methodology, in the MS-populations, and at re-evaluating the differences in effectiveness between the two drugs. We gained access to copies of the individual amended databases and pooled all data. We used uniform inclusion/exclusion criteria and statistical methods with Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting. RESULTS: The pooled analyses comprised 968 natalizumab- and 1479 fingolimod treated patients. The on-treatment natalizumab/fingolimod relapse rate ratio was 0.77 (p=0.004). The hazard ratio (HR) for a first relapse was 0.82 (p=0.030), and the HR for sustained EDSS improvement was 1.4 (p=0.009). There were modest differences between each of the original published studies and the replication study, but the conclusions of the three original studies remained unchanged: in two of them natalizumab was more effective, but in the third there was no difference between natalizumab and fingolimod. CONCLUSION: The results were largely invariant to the epidemiological and statistical methods but differed between the MS populations. Generally, the advantage of natalizumab was confirmed.

BACKGROUND: Cladribine tablets (marketed as Mavenclad) are a new oral therapy, which has recently been listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme in Australia for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The current dosing schedule is for 2 courses given a year apart, which has been shown to be effective for treatment of MS for up to 4 years in 75% of patients (based on annualized relapse rate). However, the reinitiation of therapy after year 4 has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cladribine tablets over a 6-year period, according to no evidence of disease activity 3. METHODS: This will be a multicenter, 6-year, phase IV, low interventional, observational study that incorporates clinical, hematological, biochemical, epigenetic, radiological and cognitive biomarkers of disease. Participants considered for treatment with cladribine as part of their routine clinical care will be consented to take part in the study. They will be monitored at regular intervals during the initial course of medication administration in years 1 and 2. After year 3, patients will have the option of redosing, if clinically indicated, or to switch to another disease-modifying therapy. Throughout the duration of the study, we will assess blood-based biomarkers including lymphocyte subsets, serum neurofilament light chain, DNA methylation, and RNA analysis as well as magnetic resonance imaging findings (brain volume and/or lesion load) and cognitive performance. RESULTS: This study has been approved by the Hunter New England Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee. Recruitment began in March of 2019 and was completed by June 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This will be the first long-term efficacy trial of cladribine, which offers reinitiation of therapy in the 3rd year, based on disease activity, after the initial 2 courses. We expect that this study will indicate whether any of the assessed biomarkers can be used to predict treat