Rituximab Associated With Low Drug Discontinuation in Newly Diagnosed Relapsing-Remitting MS

Rituximab is associated with lower rates of drug discontinuation compared with other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) and may be more clinically effective than dimethyl fumarate and injectable DMTs in patients with newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to an observational study published in JAMA Neurology.

In this retrospective cohort study, investigators identified patients with RRMS from a Swedish MS registry (n=494). For the primary outcome, investigators analyzed a total of 11 reasons for drug discontinuation of an initial treatment choice. In addition, the secondary outcome evaluated included the reasons for switching therapy in these patients.

In this cohort, patients received an injectable DMT (n=215), dimethyl fumarate (n=86), fingolimod (n=17), natalizumab (n=50), rituximab (n=120), or other DMT (n=6).

Discontinuation rates per year were 0.03, 0.29, 0.32, 0.38, and 0.53 for rituximab, natalizumab, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, and injectable DMTs, respectively. In patients who discontinued injectable DMTs, dimethyl fumarate, and fingolimod, continued disease activity represented the primary reason for discontinuation. In patients taking natalizumab, discontinuation was primarily due to receiving positive John Cunningham virus serology results.

Compared with dimethyl fumarate and injectable DMTs, rituximab was associated with significantly lower rates of clinical relapses and/or neuroradiologic disease. In addition, there were lower relapse rates in patients taking rituximab vs natalizumab and fingolimod.

Considering participants were not randomized to a particular intervention and that initial therapy of choice depended on physician opinion, the differences between groups may have been influenced by external bias. In addition, the small number of patients in each group may have limited the wide scale applicability of the findings.

The investigators agree that the safety record of first-line injectable DMTs “is superior to that of newer DMTs, which is of high relevance in particular for the risk-benefit assessment of long-term treatment in patients with mild to moderate disease.”

Reference

Granqvist M, Boremalm M, Poorghobad A, et al. Comparative effectiveness of rituximab and other initial treatment choices for multiple sclerosis [published online January 8, 2018]. JAMA Neurol. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4011