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you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue JAMA Network HomeJAMA Neurology This Issue Views 2,357 Citations 0 60 Full Text Share Comment Original Investigation May 15, 2023 Comparative Effectiveness of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant vs Fingolimod, Natalizumab, and Ocrelizumab in Highly Active Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Tomas Kalincik, MD, PhD1,2; Sifat Sharmin, PhD1,2; Izanne Roos, MBChB, PhD1,2; Mark S. Freedman, MD3; Harold Atkins, MD4; Joachim Burman, MD, PhD5; Jennifer Massey, MBBS, PhD6,7; Ian Sutton, MBBS, PhD6,8; Barbara Withers, MD, PhD7,9; Richard Macdonell, MD, PhD10,11; Andrew Grigg, MD, PhD11,12; Øivind Torkildsen, MD, PhD13; Lars Bo, MD, PhD13; Anne Kristine Lehmann, MD, PhD14; Eva Kubala Havrdova, MD, PhD15; Eva Krasulova, MD, PhD15; Marek Trněný, MD, PhD16; Tomas Kozak, MD, PhD17; Anneke van der Walt, MBBS, PhD18,19; Helmut Butzkueven, MBBS, PhD18,19; Pamela McCombe, MBBS20,21; Olga Skibina, MBBS18,22,23; Jeannette Lechner-Scott, MD, PhD24,25; Barbara Willekens, MD, PhD26,27; Elisabetta Cartechini, MD28; Serkan Ozakbas, MD29; Raed Alroughani, MD30; Jens Kuhle, MD, PhD31; Francesco Patti, MD32,33; Pierre Duquette, MD34; Alessandra Lugaresi, MD, PhD35,36; Samia J. Khoury, MD, PhD37; Mark Slee, MD, PhD38; Recai Turkoglu, MD39; Suzanne Hodgkinson, MD40; Nevin John, MD, PhD41,42; Davide Maimone, MD43; Maria Jose Sa, MD44; Vincent van Pesch, MD, PhD45,46; Oliver Gerlach, MD, PhD47,48; Guy Laureys, MD49; Liesbeth Van Hijfte, MD49; Rana Karabudak, MD50; Daniele Spitaleri, MD51; Tunde Csepany, MD, PhD52; Riadh Gouider, MD53,54; Tamara Castillo-Triviño, MD55; Bruce Taylor, MD, PhD56,57; Basil Sharrack, MD, PhD58; John A. Snowden, MD, PhD59; and the MSBase Study Group Collaborators; and the MSBase Study Group Authors Author Affiliations JAMA Neurol. 2023;80(7):702-713. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1184 editorial comment iconEditorial Comment Key Points Question What is the comparative effectiveness of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) vs individual most potent disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), such as natalizumab or ocrelizumab? Findings In this observational comparative effectiveness study of 4915 individuals using a composite cohort from specialized MS centers and the MSBase international registry, the effectiveness of AHSCT was compared with 1 medium-efficacy and 2 high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (fingolimod, natalizumab, and ocrelizumab) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS, high frequency of relapses, and moderate disability. Over 5 years, AHSCT was associated with substantially lower relapse rate than fingolimod and marginally lower relapse rate than natalizumab and was also associated with a higher rate of recovery from disability compared with fingolimod and natalizumab, but no evidence of difference in clinical outcomes between AHSCT and ocrelizumab was found at 3-year follow-up. Meaning The results indicate that in relapsing-remitting MS, the clinical effectiveness of AHSCT is considerably superior to fingolimod and marginally superior to natalizumab. Abstract Importance Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) is available for treatment of highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To compare the effectiveness of AHSCT vs fingolimod, natalizumab, and ocrelizumab in relapsing-remitting MS by emulating pairwise trials. Design, Setting, and Participants This comparative treatment effectiveness study included 6 specialist MS centers with AHSCT programs and international MSBase registry between 2006 and 2021. The study included patients with relapsing-remitting MS treated with AHSCT, fingolimod, natalizumab, or ocrelizumab with 2 or more years study follow-up including 2 or more disability assessments. Patients were matched on a propensity score derived from clinical and demographic characteristics. Exposure AHSCT vs fingolimod, natalizumab, or ocrelizumab. Main outcomes Pairwise-censored groups were compared on annualized relapse rates (ARR) and freedom from relapses and 6-month confirmed Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score worsening and improvement. Results Of 4915 individuals, 167 were treated with AHSCT; 2558, fingolimod; 1490, natalizumab; and 700, ocrelizumab. The prematch AHSCT cohort was younger and with greater disability than the fingolimod, natalizumab, and ocrelizumab cohorts; the matched groups were closely aligned. The proportion of women ranged from 65% to 70%, and the mean (SD) age ranged from 35.3 (9.4) to 37.1 (10.6) years. The mean (SD) disease duration ranged from 7.9 (5.6) to 8.7 (5.4) years, EDSS score ranged from 3.5 (1.6) to 3.9 (1.9), and frequency of relapses ranged from 0.77 (0.94) to 0.86 (0.89) in the preceding year. Compared with the fingolimod group (769 [30.0%]), AHSCT (144 [86.2%]) was associated with fewer relapses (ARR: mean [SD], 0.09 [0.30] vs 0.20 [0.44]), similar risk of disability worsening (hazard ratio [HR], 1.70; 95% CI, 0.91-3.17), and higher chance of disability improvement (HR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.71-4.26) over 5 years. Compared with natalizumab (730 [49.0%]), AHSCT (146 [87.4%]) was associated with marginally lower ARR (mean [SD], 0.08 [0.31] vs 0.10 [0.34]), similar risk of disability worsening (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.54-2.09), and higher chance of disability improvement (HR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.72-4.18) over 5 years. AHSCT (110 [65.9%]) and ocrelizumab (343 [49.0%]) were associated with similar ARR (mean [SD], 0.09 [0.34] vs 0.06 [0.32]), disability worsening (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 0.61-5.08), and disability improvement (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.66-2.82) over 3 years. AHSCT-related mortality occurred in 1 of 159 patients (0.6%). Conclusion In this study, the association of AHSCT with preventing relapses and facilitating recovery from disability was considerably superior to fingolimod and marginally superior to natalizumab. This study did not find evidence for difference in the effectiveness of AHSCT and ocrelizumab over a shorter available follow-up time.