ABSTRACT
Introduction: Inebilizumab is approved in the USA and Japan for aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin (Ig)G seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Objective: Report final safety and efficacy data from the N-MOmentum trial of inebilizumab in NMOSD. Methods: Participants with NMOSD (aged 18+, EDSS score of ≤8, recent history of attacks) were randomized 3:1 to inebilizumab or placebo monotherapy for 28 weeks or up to attack occurrence;the randomized controlled period (RCP). Primary outcome was time to adjudicated attack. Participants could then enter the inebilizumab open label period (OLP). Final study data are presented, including attack risk and safety outcomes. Results: Of the 230 participants randomized and dosed, 216 (93.9%) entered and 174 (80.6%) completed the OLP. In the RCP, 87.0% were attack free with inebilizumab and 59.9% with placebo (72.8% risk reduction, p<0.001). In the OLP, 87.7% were attackfree in those continuing inebilizumab and 83.4% in those switched from placebo. Regardless of randomization, 225 participants received inebilizumab. Mean (SD) treatment duration was 3.2 (1.4) years;36.8% were treated for >4 years (maximum of 5.5 years). Total exposure was 730.36 person-years (py) with an annualized attack rate of 0.092;40/63 (63.5%) attacks occurred in the first year. Treatment-emergent adverse events (AE) were reported by 89 (39.6%) participants, most frequently urinary tract infection (26.2%), nasopharyngitis (20.9%) and arthralgia (17.3%). Infusion-related reactions with inebilizumab occurred in 28 (12.9%) participants (rate per 100-py: whole study, 11.1;RCP, 37.6). The rate (95% confidence interval) of infections per 100-py did not increase with continued treatment: year 1, 116.3 (102.4-131.6);year 2, 68.1 (57.2-80.6);year 3, 61.9 (50.3-75.5);year 4, 55.1 (41.7-71.4). 105 participants had transient low IgG (<700 mg/dL) during treatment, but no correlations were found between the worst IgG, IgM or IgA levels recorded and the occurrence of any infection or an infection ≥ grade 3 (Fisher exact test, all p>0.05). Three trial participants died: one from complications of NMOSD attack, one from a CNS event of unclear etiology and one due to COVID-19, after 9, 224 and 1225 days of inebilizmab treatment, respectively. Conclusions. During the 5.5 years of N-MOmentum, the risk of attack in participants receiving inebilizumab remained low with no evidence of unexpected serious adverse events, including serious infection.
ABSTRACT
Background: Outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodyassociated disease (MOGAD), often treated with immunosuppressive therapies, are still unknown. Objectives: The objective was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with neuromyelitis optica and associated disorders and to identify the factors associated with COVID-19 severity. Methods: We conducted a multi-center, retrospective, observational cohort study among all French expert centers for neuromyelitis optica and related disorders. Patients with NMOSD or MOGAD included in the study received a confirmed or highly suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and June 30th, 2020. Main outcome was COVID-19 severity score assessed on a 7-point ordinal scale ranging from 1 (not hospitalized with no limitations on activities) to 7 (death). Results: Fifteen cases (mean [SD] age: 39.3 [14.3] years, 11 female) were included. Five patients (33.3%) were hospitalized, all receiving rituximab. A 24-year-old patient with positive aquaporine-4 antibody, with obesity as comorbidity, needed mechanical ventilation. Outpatients were receiving anti-CD20 (5), mycophenolate mofetil (3) or azathioprine (3). They were younger (mean [SD] age: 37.0 [13.4] years), with a longer disease duration (mean [SD]: 8.3 [6.3] years) and had a lower EDSS score (median [range] EDSS: 2.5 [0-4]) relative to patients requiring hospitalization (mean [SD] age: 44.0 [16.4] years, mean [SD] disease duration: 5.8 [5.5] years, median [range] EDSS: 4 [0-6.5]). Conclusions: COVID-19 outcome was overall favorable in this cohort. Larger international studies are needed to identify risk factors of severe COVID-19, however we recommend to maintain preventive measures to limit the risk of contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in this immunocompromised population.