Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has released five-year efficacy data on its monoclonal antibody for Multiple Sclerosis treatment. The data revealed a 44 per cent reduction in relapses, along with significant reductions in MRI lesions by 96.4 per cent and 82.7 per cent, respectively. Additionally, there were 24.5 per cent and 21.6 per cent fewer 3- and 6-month confirmed disability worsening (CDW) events, respectively.
As per the company's statement, a distinct examination of the entire ALITHIOS population exhibited comparable efficacy with ongoing Kesimpta treatment, which also demonstrated consistent tolerability and safety over a period of up to six years.
"Our analysis of treatment-naïve individuals recently diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis revealed that initiating Kesimpta as a first-line treatment for up to six years yielded long-term benefits. These benefits include reduced relapse rates, significantly suppressed MRI lesion activity, and fewer instances of disability worsening. While patients who switched to Kesimpta later also showed improvements, the delay in irreversible disability worsening was not as pronounced compared to those who initially started on Kesimpta. This underscores the importance of early initiation of treatment," stated principal investigator Gabriel Pardo, MD, who serves as the Founding Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
