Fingolimod (FTY720) therapy in Japanese patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis over 12 months: results of a phase 2 observational extension

• Published in: BMC neurology 2014-01, Vol.14 (1), p.21-21, Article 21
• Main Authors: Kira, Jun-ichi, Itoyama, Yasuto, Kikuchi, Seiji, Hao, Qi, Kurosawa, Takayoshi, Nagato, Kazuo, Tsumiyama, Isao, von Rosenstiel, Philipp, Zhang-Auberson, Lixin, Saida, Takahiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies; Aquaporins; Asian People - ethnology; Care and treatment; Double-Blind Method; Drug dosages; Drug therapy; Female; Fingolimod Hydrochloride; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Liver; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - diagnosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - ethnology; Neurology; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Population; Propylene Glycols - therapeutic use; Sphingosine - analogs & derivatives; Sphingosine - therapeutic use; Spinal cord; Statistical methods; Treatment Outcome; Viral antibodies; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2377; 1471-2377
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-14-21

A 6-month phase 2 study of fingolimod demonstrated efficacy and safety in Japanese patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we report a 6-month observational extension that evaluated efficacy and safety in patients who received fingolimod continuously for 12 months or who switched from placebo to fingolimod. Of 147 patients who completed the 6-month core study, 143 entered the extension. Those originally randomized to placebo were re-randomized to fingolimod 1.25 mg or 0.5 mg. During the extension, all patients were switched to open-label fingolimod 0.5 mg. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and relapse outcomes were maintained or improved in patients treated with fingolimod for 12 months versus those treated for 6 months. No new safety events were reported over 12 months of treatment. Infections occurred in similar proportions of continuously treated and switched patients, while cardiac and liver adverse events occurred in fewer continuously treated than switched patients. Four patients were aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive, three of whom showed rapid disease exacerbations within 10 days of fingolimod initiation. Continuous fingolimod treatment for up to 12 months was associated with maintained or improved efficacy and a manageable safety profile, consistent with that previously seen. Results in a small number of patients suggest lack of benefit in AQP4 antibody-positive patients. Meaningful statistical interpretation was limited by the small sample size in each treatment group, owing to the number of patients who completed the core study. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00670449.