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By: Marco Meglio – Neurology LIVE
Increases in physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning were more common in patients receiving natalizumab than in patients receiving other disease modifying therapies
Data from a patient-centric survey study presented at the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) suggests that treatment with natalizumab (Tysabri; Biogen) is associated with a greater “feel-good” experience compared with other disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).1
John Foley, MD
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Research conducted by John Foley, MD, neurology specialist, Rocky Mountain MS Clinic, and colleagues showed a significantly higher percentage of natalizumab patients “felt good” while on natalizumab (n = 95; 63%) compared with other DMT-treated patients (45%; n = 252; P = .001).
In total, 78% of natalizumab-treated patients self-reported physical benefits compared with 67% of other-DMT patients (P = .017). Additionally, significantly higher rates of improved energy (23% vs 12%; P = .011) and coordination (22% vs 12%; P = .017) were observed in natalizumab compared with other-DMT patients.
Improvements in organizing thoughts, a cognitive component of the assessment, was significantly higher for natalizumab patients versus other-DMT patients (24% vs 14%; P = .021). Associations of “feel-good” experiences such as increased physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning, which were more commonly observed in natalizumab patients, were consistent with qualitative interviews.
In previous studies, patients had self-reported a “feel-good” experience while receiving natalizumab treatment. This study aimed to confirm previous reports by comparing surveys results of “feel-good” experiences in adult patients with RRMS who were on either natalizumab or other DMTs . The surveys asked patients about their current DMT use and its “feel-good” effect assessed by self-reported improvements in physical, emotional, and cognitive domains.