ABSTRACT
Introduction: The long-term benefit-risk profile of ocrelizumab (OCR) in patients (pts) with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be evaluated by regular safety reporting of clinical trial (CT) and post-marketing (PM) data. Safety/efficacy of OCR have been characterised in Phase II (NCT00676715) and Phase III (NCT01247324;NCT01412333;NCT01194570) trials and related open-label extension (OLE) periods, in relapsing-remitting MS, relapsing MS (RMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). It is important to understand the long-term safety profile of OCR and consider the impact of COVID-19. Aim(s): To report the continuity in safety by reporting longer-term safety evaluations from OCR CT and OLE periods over a 9-year follow-up period (up to November 2021). Method(s): Safety outcomes, with and without COVID-19, are reported for the OCR all-exposure population from 11 ongoing CTs in MS. Rates per 100 patient years (PY) are presented. Result(s): Over more than 9 years of follow-up, 5,848 pts with MS received OCR treatment in 11 CTs (25,153 PY of exposure;November 2021). Reported rates per 100 PY (95% CI) were: Adverse events (AEs), 232.71 (230.83-234.60), [excluding COVID-19 (EX COV) 230.12 (228.25-232.01)];infections, 69.89 (68.86-70.93), [EX COV 67.37 (66.36-68.39)];serious AEs, 7.61 (7.27-7.96), [EX COV 6.90 (6.58-7.23)];serious infections (SI), 2.74 (2.54-2.96), [EX COV 2.04 (1.87-2.22)];malignancies, 0.41 (0.34-0.50);SI leading to withdrawal, 0.12 (0.08-0.18), [EX COV 0.08 (0.05-0.13)];and AEs leading to discontinuation, 0.97 (0.85-1.10), [EX COV 0.93 (0.81-1.06)]. As of March 2022, over 250,000 pts with MS initiated OCR globally in the PM setting. Data remain generally consistent with those observed in CTs factoring in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion(s): AE rates in the OCR all-exposure population remain generally consistent with the controlled treatment period in RMS/PPMS populations. Serious infection and malignancy rates remain within the range reported for pts with MS in realworld registries. COVID-19 did not lead to increased treatment withdrawal. Over a 9-year follow-up period, no new or unexpected safety signal was seen in pts treated with OCR in ongoing CTs. OCR continues to exhibit a stable and favourable safety profile. Regular reporting of longer-term safety data will continue.
ABSTRACT
Background: Early high-efficacy treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) may provide long-term clinical benefits, improving disease outcomes and patient quality of life. ENSEMBLE is a multicentre, open-label, single-arm Phase IIIb study, evaluating the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab (OCR) in patients with early-stage relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Aim(s): To report 2-year interim efficacy and safety data of the full cohort of patients with early-stage RRMS from the ENSEMBLE trial (NCT03085810), using no evidence of disease activity (NEDA)-3 as the primary endpoint. Method(s): Treatment-naive patients with early-stage RRMS (age 18-55 years;disease duration <=3 years;Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] <=3.5;with one or more clinically reported relapse(s) or one or more signs of MRI activity in the prior 12 months) received OCR 600 mg every 24 weeks for 192 weeks (planned study duration). Key endpoints were NEDA-3 (defined as no relapses, 24-week [W] confirmed disability progression [CDP] and MRI activity [T1-weighted contract enhanced images or new/enlarging T2-weighted lesions, with MRI measurements rebaselined at W8]), annualised relapse rate (ARR), mean change in EDSS score from baseline (BL) and a safety overview. Result(s): BL demographics and disease characteristics of the ENSEMBLE population (N=1,225) were consistent with earlystage RRMS disease (patients <=40 years, 78.9%;female, 64.0%;median: Age, 32.0 years;duration since MS symptom onset, 0.74 years;duration since RRMS diagnosis, 0.22 years;BL EDSS score, 1.75;mean BL EDSS score [SD], 1.80 [0.93]). At W96, the majority of patients (n=857, 77.3%) had NEDA, 88.9% had no MRI activity, 93.4% had no relapses and 90.7% had no 24W-CDP. The adjusted ARR at W96 was low, 0.033 (95% CI, 0.026-0.042), and the mean (SD) EDSS score showed a statistically significant improvement between BL and W96, decreasing by 0.13 (0.89;p<0.0001), from 1.80 (0.93) to 1.67 (1.12). Safety results were consistent with prior OCR studies. Infections were reported by 760 (62.0%) patients;rates of serious infections were low (n=33 [2.7%] patients);32 (2.6%) of patients contracted a COVID-19 infection. Conclusion(s): In the ENSEMBLE study of treatment-naive patients with early-stage RRMS, disease activity based on clinical and MRI measures was minimal in most patients treated with ocrelizumab over 2 years;safety was consistent with prior ocrelizumab experience, with no new safety signals.