Pre-natalizumab vs. after-natalizumab

I view MS as having two eras, the pre-natalizumab era and after-natalizumab era. Natalizumab has been a transformational therapy for so many reasons and this study provides a little more evidence to support this position. 


I have always said that flipping the pyramid is the best way to maximise outcomes for a population of MSers. This study shows that MSers on high-efficacy DMTs are much more likely to work and when they do work their work is more productive. 

The Australians, where this study was done, are fortunate to have all high-efficacy DMTs 1st-line. Their healthcare system leaves the decision-making up to the HCP and patient and they don't prescribe strict rules. If I had MS I would want to be living in Australia. 

This study also supports my demand to Biogen to please get the EMA marketing authorisation for natalizumab changed; we need it first-line for MSers who are JCV seronegative. Please! 

Chen et al. Effects of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies on employment measures using patient-reported data. JNNP 2018; http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2018-318228

Background: The direct comparative evidence on treatment effects of available multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is limited, and few studies have examined the benefits of DMTs on employment outcomes. We compared the effects of DMTs used in the previous 5 years on improving the work attendance, amount of work and work productivity of people with MS.

Methods: The Australian MS Longitudinal Study collected data from participants on DMTs usage from 2010 to 2015 and whether DMTs contributed to changes in employment outcomes. We classified 11 DMTs into three categories based on their clinical efficacy (β-interferons and glatiramer acetate as category 1; teriflunomide and dimethyl fumarate as category 2; fingolimod, natalizumab, alemtuzumab and mitoxantrone as category 3). Each DMT used by a participant was treated as one observation and analysed by log-multinomial regression.

Results: Of the 874 participants included, 1384 observations were generated. Those who used category 3 (higher efficacy) DMTs were 2–3 times more likely to report improvements in amount of work, work attendance and work productivity compared with those who used category 1 (classical injectable) DMTs. Natalizumab was associated with superior beneficial effects on patient-reported employment outcomes than fingolimod (RR=1.76, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.03 for increased work attendance and RR=1.46, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.10 for increased work productivity).

Conclusions: Those using the higher efficacy (category 3) DMTs, particularly fingolimod and natalizumab, reported significant increases in amount of work, work attendance and work productivity, suggesting they have important beneficial effects on work life in people with MS.

ProfG    

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