…In the real-world EFFECT study (n=1890), the proportion of patients relapse-free at 1 year was higher with DMF vs. GA (89% vs. 80%) (Chan et al. ECTRIMS 2017; abstract P1160). The adjusted ARR ratio was one-third lower with DMF (0.66). Fingolimod vs. dimethyl fumarate (three analyses): Seven MS clinics in Italy reported on 895 patients on fingolimod or DMF (Prosperini et al. ECTRIMS 2017; abstract P665). The DMF group had less active disease at ba…

…penia remained uncommon (Grade 1, 3.0%; Grade 2, 2.5%; no cases of Grades 3-4) (Comi et al. ECTRIMS 2017; abstract P742). The rate of serious infections was low in patients with Grade 1 (0.1%) and Grade 2 (0.2%) lymphopenia. A separate analysis of the effect of teriflunomide on immune subsets reported that the drug significantly reduces CD19+ B cell subsets (mature and regulatory), with lesser effects on T cell subsets (trends for effector CD4+ an…

…S: OCBs, kappa free-light chain, IgG against neurotropic viruses, chitinase-3-like protein-1, soluble CD27, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) (Thouvenot et al. ECTRIMS 2017; abstract 99). NfL has also been suggested as a biomarker of disability progression and time to SPMS. Two studies have now examined the utility of NfL as a marker of treatment success. The first examined serum NfL levels from baseline to week 48 in the ADVANCE phase III trial…