Exploring New Treatments for MS: Safety, Efficacy of Intravenous Cladribine

The following article is part of live conference coverage from the 2018 ACTRIMS Forum in San Diego, California. Neurology Advisor’s staff will be reporting breaking news associated with research conducted by leading experts in neurology. Check back for the latest news from ACTRIMS 2018.

Data presented at the 2018 ACTRIMS Forum in San Diego, California, confirmed the safety and efficacy of intravenous cladribine therapy for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Researchers from Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with relapsing-remitting or progressive MS (n=28; 60% relapsing-remitting MS and 30% secondary progressive MS) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous cladribine.

Of study participants (64% female, median age at diagnosis, 26), 93% had tried at least 2 other disease-modifying therapies prior to cladribine therapy.

After >1 cladribine cycle, annual rate of relapse was 0.38; prior rate of relapse was 0.6 (P =.0024). The 1-year mean of clinical relapses was 0.095, with a mean of 0.9 prior to cladribine therapy (P =.0004). Number of identified enhancing lesions on the brain was less than 40% within the first year following cladribine dosing, 2.46 prior to cladribine and 1.46 after. A majority of patients (93%) experienced no significant side effects.

“[Our study] showed that intravenous cladribine was both effective and relatively safe,” the researchers concluded. “There is a statistically significant reduction in the annual relapsing rate and the mean number of clinical relapses after receiving cladribine.”

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Reference

Alchaki A, Anadani N, Cook S. Safety and efficacy of intravenous cladribine in multiple sclerosis patients. Presented at: ACTRIMS Forum 2018; February 1-3, 2018; San Diego, CA. Abstract P039