REPORT FROM THE 63rd ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN), HONOLULU, HAWAII, APRIL 9-16, 2011 – MS patients are inclined to accept new therapies regardless of the potential risks, according to a survey conducted by Wayne State University in the period 2007-2009 (Caon et al AAN 2011; abstract P01.208).
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Alemtuzumab reduces 1-year sustained disability: CAMS223 analysis
April 14, 2011REPORT FROM THE 63rd ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN), HONOLULU, HAWAII, APRIL 9-16, 2011 – CAMMS23 was a phase II trial comparing alemtuzumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets CD52 lymphocytes, with subcutaneous beta-interferon-1a (CAMMS223 Trial Investigators et al. N Engl J Med 2008; 359: 1786-1801; free full text at www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0802670). Alemtuzumab dosing groups received either 12 or 24 mg IV x 1 cycle/year. While alemtuzumab appeared to be more effective than beta-interferon (annualized relapse rate 0.10 vs. 0.36), alemtuzumab was suspended after three patients developed immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP).
Natalizumab discontinuation/interruption: relapse risk, poor tolerability
April 13, 2011REPORT FROM THE 63rd ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN), HONOLULU, HAWAII, APRIL 9-16, 2011 – A retrospective analysis of patients who discontinued natalizumab has concluded that there is an elevated risk of increased disease activity and worsening disability if the drug is stopped (Kelly et al. AAN 2011; abstract P01.197).
3-month disability progression reduced with fingolimod
April 13, 2011REPORT FROM THE 63rd ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN), HONOLULU, HAWAII, APRIL 9-16, 2011 – An analysis of data from the phase III FREEDOMS trial of fingolimod in relapsing-remitting MS reports that 3-month disability progression is reduced by about one-third overall, with reductions seen consistently across all predefined subgroups (Devonshire et al. AAN 2011; abstract P01.198).