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June 5, 2016
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by Kristina Fiore Associate Editor, MedPage Today
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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) appeared to stabilize or improve disability in multiple sclerosis over 5 years, researchers reported here.
In an analysis of data from both the initial and extension phase of the CARE-MS II trial, the mean change in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) over that time was only +0.06, Christopher LaGanke, MD, of North Central Neurology Associates in Cullman, Ala., and colleagues reported at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) annual meeting.
“We have debates over whether a 0.5-point change on the EDSS is clinically meaningful, so this is really impressive,” Aaron Boster, MD, of Ohio Health in Columbus, who was a co-author on the study, told MedPage Today.
Most of these patients (60%) only received the standard two courses of alemtuzumab — an initial 5-day infusion, followed by a 3-day infusion a year later — and didn’t require additional infusions, LaGanke reported.
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