Proportion of alemtuzumab-treated patients converting from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis over 6 years.

Background: Few data exist concerning conversion to secondary progressive MS in patients treated with disease-modifying therapies.

Objective: Determine the proportion of alemtuzumab-treated patients converting from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive MS during the CARE-MS core and extension studies.

Methods: Patients ( = 811) were analyzed post hoc for secondary progressive MS conversion.

Lymphocyte pharmacodynamics are not associated with autoimmunity or efficacy after alemtuzumab.

Objective: To examine the association between peripheral blood lymphocyte pharmacodynamics and autoimmune adverse events (AEs) or return of disease activity in alemtuzumab-treated patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Methods: Patients received 2 alemtuzumab courses (12 mg/d IV; 5 days at baseline, 3 days 12 months later) in the 2-year Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis studies (NCT00530348 and NCT00548405) and could then receive as-needed alemtuzumab or other disease-modifying therapy in a 4-year extension (NCT00930553). Lymphocytes were phenotyped quarterly over 2 years using fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

Efficacy and Safety of Alemtuzumab in Patients of African Descent with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: 8-Year Follow-up of CARE-MS I and II (TOPAZ Study).

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients of African descent have increased risk for disease progression and may be less responsive to disease-modifying therapy.

Methods: Patients in the CARE-MS studies received alemtuzumab 12 mg/day [initial alemtuzumab treatment (IAT); baseline: 5 days; 12 months later: 3 days] or subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (SC IFNB-1a) 3 ×/week. Core study outcomes were compared between treatment groups.