MS drug alemtuzumab shows good long-term response

A new long-term analysis detailing 10 years of clinical efficacy of alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were presented at the 68th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2016 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

Results from the on-going, long-term extension study of the phase 2 CAMMS223 study showed that over 10 years of follow-up, 76% of patients were shown to be free from 6-month confirmed disability worsening (increase of ≥1.0 EDSS point [or ≥1.5 points if baseline EDSS=0]) and 78% had an Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score that was either stable or showed greater than or equal to one point improvement in EDSS vs baseline. In addition, a low annualised relapse rate (ARR) was maintained (0.08) over the period. The long-term safety observed in this group of patients was in line with that of other Lemtrada clinical trials.

People who entered the CAMMS223 study had not previously received other treatments for RRMS and the majority of those who were followed for 10 years received a maximum of three courses of Lemtrada.

“These data provide further evidence of the long term response with Lemtrada in treatment-naïve patients with relapsing-remitting MS”, said Professor Alasdair Coles, Lead Investigator, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK. “It is remarkable that such infrequent dosing with Lemtrada offers stability or improvement of disability over ten years. These findings confirm that Lemtrada is a valid treatment approach for people with multiple sclerosis, without the need for continuous treatment.”

More than 100,000 people in the UK have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), with around 85% diagnosed with RRMS. Lemtrada is the second of Sanofi Genzyme’s treatments for MS to receive approval for use from NICE and on the NHS in England and Wales.