Novartis today announced data from the Phase IV Multiple Sclerosis and clinical outcome and MRI in the US (MS-MRIUS) study, which confirmed the effectiveness of Gilenya® (fingolimod) in the real-world setting, supporting previous findings from Phase III trials[1],[2]. Results show that Gilenya impacted four key measures of MS disease activity (relapses, MRI lesions, disability progression and brain shrinkage), in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) for up to 16 months[1]. This is also the first time a multicenter study has evaluated and shown that routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans taken in the every-day clinical setting can reliably be used to measure brain shrinkage, a key measure of disease progression, in people with RRMS[3]. Full results are presented at the 69th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The MS-MRIUS study is a multicenter (33 centers), retrospective, real-world study of 590 people with RRMS receiving Gilenya treatment[1]. At median follow-up of 16 months, 85.8% of individuals treated with Gilenya remained on treatment[1]. Of individuals eligible for NEDA-3 assessment (no relapses, no new or enlarged MRI lesions and no disability progression combined, n=586), 59.6% achieved NEDA-3 status[1]. Of those eligible for NEDA-4 assessment (NEDA-3 plus no brain shrinkage (brain volume loss), n= 325), more than a third (37.5%) achieved NEDA-4 status[1]. The study showed that among the NEDA-4 patients, 86.5% treated with Gilenya had no relapses, 91.1% experienced no disability progression and 79.7% had no new or enlarged MRI lesions[1]. In addition, 58.2% of patients had no MS-related brain shrinkage over 0.4%, which is broadly within the range one would expect to see in people without MS[1].

"These data build on the wealth of clinical and real-world evidence that show Gilenya is a highly efficacious, long-term treatment option for controlling disease activity in relapsing MS," said Vas Narasimhan, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. "Measuring brain shrinkage has historically been dependent on specialist brain scanning techniques. These ground-breaking new data showing brain shrinkage can be reliably measured by routine MRI scans have the potential to change how this key measure of disease progression is monitored, to ultimately help patients and physicians observe and manage treatment success and outcomes."

The data showed for the first time that MRI scans with techniques readily available in clinical practice (FLAIR - fluid attenuation inversion recovery MRI), was a reliable method for measuring brain shrinkage in more than 95% of people included in the study[3].

Results from the MS-MRIUS study confirm the importance of addressing the four key measures of MS disease activity - relapses, MRI lesions, disability progression and brain shrinkage - through early and effective treatment to impact the course of RRMS and preserve patients' physical and cognitive function over the long-term.

About the MS-MRIUS study
The Multiple Sclerosis and clinical outcome and MRI in the US (MS-MRIUS) study is a Phase IV multicenter (33 sites), retrospective study including 590 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)[1]. The study investigated the effect of Gilenya on achieving 'no evidence of disease activity' (NEDA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) efficacy measures among people with RRMS, and also the feasibility of measuring brain shrinkage in routine clinical practice[1]-[3]. 586 patients were eligible for NEDA-3 and 325 patients were eligible for NEDA-4 evaluation, based on the availability of high resolution scans[1].

Individuals were required to undergo MRI scans within six months before, or one month after, the start of Gilenya treatment, followed by another MRI scan between nine and 24 months after the start of treatment[1].

Evaluation of NEDA was based on measurement of annualized relapse rate, MRI lesions and disability progression, as measured by the mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, (NEDA-3) and MS-related brain shrinkage (NEDA-4), measured using whole brain volume loss (no MS-related brain shrinkage >0.4%)[1].

To assess the feasibility of measuring brain shrinkage in routine clinical practice, changes in lateral ventricle volume (LVV) were evaluated using fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI scans. LVV could be used as a proxy for whole brain volume changes, measured in high resolution MRI scans[3].

About Gilenya® (fingolimod)
Gilenya is an oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) that is highly efficacious at controlling disease activity in relapsing MS (RMS)[4]. Gilenya has a reversible lymphocyte redistribution effect targeting both focal and diffuse central nervous system (CNS) damage caused by MS[5],[6]. Long-term clinical trial and real-world evidence and experience has shown Gilenya treatment to be convenient for individuals to incorporate into everyday life, leading to high treatment satisfaction, long-term persistence, and ultimately, improved long-term outcomes for people with RMS[7],[8].

Gilenya impacts four key measures of RMS disease activity: relapses, MRI lesions, brain shrinkage (brain volume loss) and disability progression[9],[10]. Its effectiveness on all of these measures has been consistently shown in multiple controlled clinical studies and in the real-world setting. Studies have shown its safety and high efficacy to be sustained over the long term, demonstrating that switching to Gilenya treatment as early in the disease course as possible can be beneficial in helping to preserve individuals' function[11],[12].

Gilenya is approved in the US for the first-line treatment of relapsing forms of MS in adults and in the EU for adult patients with highly-active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) defined as either high disease activity despite treatment with at least one DMT, or rapidly-evolving severe RRMS[4],[13].

Gilenya has been used to treat more than 204,000 patients in both clinical trials and the post-marketing setting, with approximately 424,000 years of patient experience[14].

About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord through inflammation and tissue loss[15]. There are three types of MS: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS)[16]. The evolution of MS results in an increasing loss of both physical and cognitive (e.g. memory) function. This has a substantial negative impact on the lives of the approximately 2.3 million people worldwide affected by MS[17].

About Novartis in Multiple Sclerosis
The Novartis multiple sclerosis (MS) portfolio includes Gilenya (fingolimod, an S1P modulator), which is indicated for relapsing forms of MS and is also in development for pediatric MS. Extavia® (interferon beta-1b for subcutaneous injection) is approved in the US for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS. In Europe, Extavia is approved to treat people with relapsing-remitting MS, secondary progressive MS (SPMS) with active disease and people who have had a single clinical event suggestive of MS.

Investigational compounds include BAF312 (siponimod), under investigation in MS, and OMB157 (ofatumumab), a fully human monoclonal antibody in development for relapsing MS. Ofatumumab targets CD20, and is currently being investigated in two Phase III pivotal studies.

In the US, the Sandoz Division of Novartis markets Glatopa® (glatiramer acetate injection) 20mg/mL, the first generic version of Teva's Copaxone®* 20mg.

* Copaxone® is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world.