Stem Cell Therapy Superior to Lemtrada for Treating RRMS According to Real-World Data

According to an analysis of data from a real-world setting, people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) showed improved clinical and radiologic outcomes compared with those treated with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab; Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ). Results from this Italian multicenter study were presented at the 40th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).            

Researchers collected demographic, clinical, and radiologic data for 411 people living with RRMS from 20 Italian centers. The study population was divided into 2 groups depending on whether patients received treatment with AHSCT or Lemtrada. Statistical analyses were performed to compare outcomes between the 2 groups, including progression or improvement in Expanded Disability Scale Score (EDSS), prevalence of disability improvement, disease activity, and relapse-free survival.

Compared with individuals who received Lemtrada treatment (n=314), those who received AHSCT (n=97) demonstrated lower cumulative probabilities in the following outcomes:

• Disability progression (hazard ratio [HR], 0.50 [95% CI, 0.27 to 0.92]; P=0.025)
• Clinical relapses (HR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.19 to 0.60]; P<0.001)
• New MRI activity (HR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.22 to 0.64]; P<0.001)
• No evidence of disease activity-3 (NEDA-3) failure (HR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.71]; P<0.001)

In addition, the AHSCT group demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of disability improvement (26.0% vs 14.3% after 4 years; P=0.0096). A significant difference in cumulative probability of disability improvement (HR, 1.18; [95% CI, 0.74 to 1.87]; P=0.48) was not observed.