Alemtuzumab Effective for Treatment of MS Over 8 Years of Follow Up

After 8 years of treatment with alemtuzumab (Lemtrada; Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ), patients treated with 3 or more courses of the drug had an annualized relapse rate (ARR) of 0.18%, 85% of patients have been free of relapses, and 70% of patients had stable or improved scores on the Expanded Disabilities State Scale (EDSS). During the eighth year of follow up, 58% of patients had no evidence of disease activity, 64% of patients had no 6-month worsening of disability, and 47% had confirmed 6-month disability improvement. 

Patients annual brain volume loss (BVL) from baseline through the eighth year was -1.06% with a median annual BVL of < 0.19%. Over the 8-year period, the incidence of adverse effects, including infections and thyroid disease, declined. There were no new cases of nephropathy or thrombocytopenia. 

Of 435 patients treated with alemtuzumab in the CARE-MS II study (NCT00548405), 300 (69%) have been followed for 8 years and another 200 patients who received alemtuzumab after having received the placebo were followed for the same period. In those who received alemtuzumab during the placebo-controlled portion of the trial, 44% did not take another course of a disease-modifying treatment (DMT) including alemtuzumab. These data were presented at the American Conference on Treatment and Research in MMS (ACTRIMS) conference in Dallas, TX February 28-March 1.