MD1003 High Dose Biotin Results

The MS-SPI study with MD1003 was a randomized 2:1, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study conducted in 16 MS reference centres in France. Treatment duration was one year.

The patient population was defined as patients suffering from primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) or secondary progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) with EDSS progression in the two years prior to inclusion and with EDSS ranging from 4.5 to 7. Patients excluded from the study included those with disease modifying therapy (DMT) introduced in the 3 months prior to inclusion, patients with fampridine introduced in the month prior to inclusion, or patients with evidence of relapse or Gadolinium-MRI activity within the past year.

Patient enrolment commenced in October 2013 and was completed in January 2014 with 166 patients screened and 154 patients randomized (103 in the MD1003 arm and 51 in the placebo arm). There were no statistically significant differences in the characteristics of the patients in the two patient groups.

There were 12 treatment discontinuations in the MD1003 arm and 8 in the placebo arm. All analyses being performed according to the intent to treat (ITT) principle, all randomized patients were analysed according to the treatment arm they were assigned to.

The primary endpoint of the study was defined as the proportion of patients who improved at 9 months (M9), with a confirmation of the improvement at 12 months (M12). Improvement was defined as either a decrease in EDSS (by at least 1 point for baseline EDSS ≤5.5 and 0.5 points for EDSS ≥6) or an improvement in TW25 (a timed 25-foot walk) of at least 20%. The comparison for each outcome was the best EDSS and TW25 scores obtained at the screening and randomisation visits.

The primary endpoint was met (p=0.0051, Fisher’s exact test) in the intent to treat population with 12.6% of patients in the MD1003 arm showing an improvement of EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) or TW25 (a timed 25-foot walk) at Month 9, confirmed at Month 12, compared to none of the patients (0%) in the placebo arm.

The primary endpoint was supported by secondary analyses showing evidence for a decrease in the risk of disease progression. The mean change of EDSS between M0 and M12 decreased in the MD1003 group (-0.03) compared to progression in the placebo group (+0.13, p=0.015). In the MD1003 arm, only 4% of patients treated with MD1003 exhibited EDSS progression at M9 confirmed at M12 vs 13% in the placebo group (p=0.07), which equates to a 67% decreased risk of progression in the active arm within the studied period. The study was not prospectively powered to reach significance for this secondary endpoint.

MD1003 was well tolerated. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar across the two groups. One patient died from suicide in the active arm, however this event was not considered as related to the drug


CoI. None. However be warned this data is from the company website and not peer-reviewed.
ProfG was there and can give you his thoughts

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