Real-World Study Results Demonstrate Efficacy of Kesimpta Treatment for Reducing Relapse Rates in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Study results presented at the ninth annual Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2024 demonstrated the efficacy of Kesimpta (ofatumumab; Novartis, East Hanover, NJ) treatment for reducing incidence of relapses in a real world sample of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

The retrospective pre-post cohort study was divided into a 12 month pre-index period (before initiation of Kesimpta treatment) and a ≥12 month post-index period (from initiation of Kesimpta treatment until end of follow up). Researchers used the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart Database to collect data from 342 individuals with at least 1 MS diagnosis who made their first Kesimpta claim between August 20, 2020, and May 31, 2022 and were continuously enrolled in a healthcare plan for at least 12 months before and after the index date, with no gaps in treatment or treatment switches for at least 12 months post-index date. Relapse was defined as an inpatient admission with primary MS diagnosis or outpatient or emergency department visit with MS diagnosis in primary or secondary position with a claim for high dose oral corticosteroids, intravenous methylprednisolone, corticotropin, or plasma exchange within 7 days.

• There was a 79% reduction in annualized relapse rate (ARR) following Kesimpta initiation (incidence ratio rate [IRR], 0.21; P<.001).
• The ARR in the pre-index period was 0.43 (95% CI, 0.36 to 0.52) compared to 0.09 (95%CI, 0.07 to 0.13) in the post-index period.

These results are consistent with clinical trial data and demonstrate the efficacy of Kesimpta treatment in the broader MS population. The study was supported by Novartis.