by Forest Ray PhD |
Tysabri (natalizumab) infusions given in the home to people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) save money and are more convenient, while apparently as safe and effective as those given in clinical settings, a pilot study comparing the two delivery methods reported.
Nonetheless, its researchers recommended larger trials be conducted to verify these findings, particularly in managing side effects due to drug hypersensitivity while at home.
The study, “Home infusions of natalizumab for people with multiple sclerosis: a pilot randomised crossover trial,” was published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
At-home infusion therapy has grown since it first started in the 1970s, the study noted, following a global trend in providing more healthcare in community settings rather than hospitals.
Among the medicines now being tested for at-home administration is Tysabri, used to limit damage to the myelin sheath that insulate neurons in people with relapsing forms of MS.
The Biogen medication, usually given as an hour-long intravenous infusion in a clinical setting under doctor supervision, prevents inflammatory immune cells from entering the brain and spinal cord. These cells mistakenly attack and degrade myelin in MS.
A subcutaneous, or under-the-skin formulation, is available in Europe but not in the United States.
To test Tysabri’s eligibility for at-home delivery, Australian researchers enrolled 35 adults with RRMS in a clinical trial to assess whether home administration was safe, feasible, acceptable to patients and healthcare workers, efficient at treating symptoms, and cost-effective.
Participants, who were using Tysabri for five years on average, were randomized to usual care or at-home infusions. Each patient underwent three monthly infusions in one of those settings, then switched to the other setting for three more infusions.
Investigators compared safety outcomes, adherence to therapy, patient satisfaction, quality of life, disability, and costs between the two delivery approaches.
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