Research: First line DMT are not that Effective in South America Either

Pereira VC, Malfetano FR, Meira ID, Souza LF, Liem AM, Maiolino A, Alves-Leon SV. Clinical response to interferon beta and glatiramer acetate in multiple sclerosis patients: a Brazilian cohort. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2012 Oct;70(10):774-9

INTRODUCTION:Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are currently receiving treatment with interferon beta (IFNb) and glatiramer acetate (GA). Identifying nonresponders patients is important to define therapy strategies. Several criteria for treatment response to IFNb and GA have been proposed.

OBJECTIVE:It was to investigate the response to treatment with IFNb-1a, IFNb-1b and GA among relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients.

METHODS:We analyzed treatment response to IFNb and GA in ninety-one RRMS patients followed for at least one year. Clinical response was established by clinical criteria based on relapses, disability progression or both.

RESULTS:We observed a proportion of nonresponders, ranging from 3.3 to 42.9%, depending on the stringency of the criteria used.

CONCLUSIONS:Our sample of Brazilian patients with MS has similarities when compared to other studies and there was no statistically significant difference regarding age, gender, ethnicity or disease duration between responders and nonresponders
This shows that some of our South American friends do not respond to some of the first-line generation DMT, just like the Europeans and Northern Americans. Yes we know pharma need to get more effective drugs available

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