Goals and Individuals, Evolving Perspectives on Managing MS Gavin Giovannoni Barts and The London
May 22, 2015
Goals and Individuals, Evolving Perspectives on Managing MS Gavin Giovannoni
Barts and The London
2
How serious a disease
is multiple sclerosis?
3
Lifespan in MS Patients Is Shortened by 8 to 12 Years
Survival Probability of Norwegian Patients with Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)
(Hordaland County, Western Norway, 1953–2003)
Su
rviv
al
(%)
MS=multiple sclerosis; CI=confidence interval.
Adapted from Torkildsen NG et al. Mult Scler. 2008;14:1191-1198.
4
100
80
60
40
20
0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Years After Onset
Approximate Patient Age
General Population
RRMS
95% CI
21-Year Long-term Follow-up of IFNβ-1b Study — Time
from Study Randomization to Death • Early treatment (3 years) with IFNβ-1b was associated with a 47% reduction in the
risk of dying over 21 years compared with initial placebo treatment
IFNβ=interferon beta; HR=hazard ratio.
Goodin DS et al. Neurology. 2012;78:1315-1322.
5
HR=0.532 (95% CI: 0.314–0.902)
46.8% reduction in hazard ratio
Log rank, P=0.0173
0 5 10 15 20
Time (years)
IFNB-1b 250 µg
Placebo
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f P
ati
en
ts W
ho
Are
Sti
ll A
live
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
Patients at risk:
IFNβ-1b 250 µg
Placebo
124
123
124
120
121
117
118
109
104
88
Uti
lity
EDSS Score
• EDSS and utility* show a significant
inverse relationship1,†
*Utility measures are derived from EQ-5D using the EuroQoL instrument; †error bars depict 95% CI. Half-points on EDSS are not shown on graph axis,
except at EDSS 6.5.
EDSS=Expanded Disability Status Scale; WHO=World Health Organization; MSIF=Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.
1. Adapted from Orme M et al. Value In Health. 2007;10:54-60; 2. WHO and MSIF. http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?sesslan=1&codlan=1
&codcol=15&codcch=747. Accessed October 6, 2010; 3. Compston A et al. McAlpine’s Multiple Sclerosis. 4th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2006.
p. 183-272; 4. Compston A, Coles A. Lancet. 2008; 372:1502-1517.
• MS is one of the most
common causes of
neurological disability in
young adults2
• Natural history studies
indicate that it takes a
median time of 8, 20, and
30 years to reach the
irreversible disability levels
of EDSS 4, 6, and 7,
respectively3
The Effect of MS on Quality of Life
6
0.8
1.0
0.4
0.6
0
0.2
-0.4
-0.2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.5 7 8 9
The Effects of MS on Unemployment
Pfleger CC et al. Mult Scler. 2010;16:121-126.
7
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Pro
bab
ilit
y
Time (Years)
0 5 10 15 20 25
Control Persons
MS Patients
Probability of Remaining in Active Employment After
Onset of Multiple Sclerosis
The Effects of MS on Divorce and Separation
Pfleger CC et al. Mult Scler. 2010;16:878-882.
8
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Pro
bab
ilit
y
Time to Event or End of Observation (years)
0 5 10 15 20 25
Control Persons
MS Patients
Crude Probability of Remaining in a Relationship After
Onset of MS (Life Table Method)
Impact of MS: Cognitive Functioning in the CIS Stage
Cognitive Test Performance in an Exploratory Study*
57
7
0
20
40
60
*40 untreated CIS patients who fulfilled the McDonald dissemination in space criterion compared to a cohort of 30 matched healthy
controls. An extensive battery of neuropsychological tests was used to explore verbal and nonverbal memory, attention, concentration,
speed of information processing, language, and abstract reasoning. Cognitive impairment was present when at least 2 different
neuropsychological tests were failed.
CIS=clinically isolated syndrome.
Feuillet l et al. Mult Scler. 2007;13:3124-3127.
Deficits were found mainly in
memory, speed of information
processing, attention, and
executive functioning
Pa
tien
ts F
ailin
g ≥
2
Co
gn
itiv
e T
ests
(%
)
9
CIS Patients
n=40
Healthy Controls
n=30
P<0.0001
What Is Benign MS?
10
163 patients with “benign” MS
(disease duration >15 years and
EDSS <3.5):
1. 45% cognitive impairment
2. 49% fatigue
3. 54% depression
Benign multiple sclerosis
Cognitive, psychological, and social
aspects in a clinical cohort
Maria Pia Amato
Valentina Zipoli
Benedetta Goretti
Emilio Portaccio
Maria Fara De Caro
Laura Ricchiuti
Gianfranco Siracusa
Medena Masini
Sandro Sorbi
Maria Trojano
J Neurol. 2006;253:1054-1059.
Clinical Prognostic Factors
Good Prognosis
• Optic neuritis
• Isolated sensory symptoms
• Long interval to
second relapse
• No disability after
5 years
• Normal MRI or low
lesion load
Poor Prognosis
• Multifocal CIS
• Efferent systems affected
• High relapse rate in first
2–5 years
• Substantial disability after
5 years
• Abnormal MRI with large
lesion load
MRI=magnetic resonance imaging.
Miller D et al. Lancet Neurol. 2005;4:281-288.
11
Relapses Can Result in Residual Deficits
• MS exacerbations can produce a measurable and sustained effect
on accrued impairment and disability1
• Therefore, treatments that reduce the frequency of relapses should
be beneficial
1. Lublin FD et al. Neurology. 2003;61:1528-1532.
27 29 30
42 44 41
0
10
20
30
40
50
30–59 60–89 ≥90
Pa
tie
nts
(%
)
Days After Exacerbation
Patients (%) with a ≥1.0 or ≥0.5 Change in EDSS Score After Relapse
≥1.0 EDSS Point
≥0.5 EDSS Point
Adapted from Lublin et al 2003.
12
Theoretical Model: Treat Early and Aggressively
Time
Disease Onset
Treatment
at diagnosis
Natural course
of disease
Later intervention
Intervention
at diagnosis
Dis
ab
ilit
y
Later
treatment
13
Survival
analysis
What Is Your Treatment Philosophy?
Maintenance-Escalation vs Induction
14
Survival
analysis
“hit hard and early ”
What Is Your Treatment Philosophy?
Maintenance-Escalation vs Induction
15
survival
analysis
“hit hard and early ”
MS is an autoimmune
disease hypothesis
15-20 year
experiment
What Is Your Treatment Philosophy?
Maintenance-Escalation vs Induction
16
17
Many Factors Beyond Benefit and Risk Need to be
Considered to Achieve Best Patient Outcomes
Adapted from Giovannoni G et al. Curr Opin Neurol. 2012;25(suppl1):S20-S27.
• Evolution away from
physician-decided therapy
towards a patient and
prescriber concordance
• General agreement on goals
of therapy
• Helps MS patients make
informed treatment decisions
• Leads to an individualized
treatment plan based on the
patient’s needs
Treatment
Choice
?
18
MS Treatment Decisions Are Complex:
Some Factors to Consider…….
19
Patient Preferences
Therapy Attributes
Efficacy
Safety
Tolerability
Administration (route/frequency)
Monitoring requirements
Biomarkers (eg, NAb)
Ease of use/convenience
Socio-demographic profile
(lifestyle, work, family)
Risk tolerance
Likelihood of adherence
Geographic/Economic Factors
Patient and Disease Profile
Age, gender
Disease activity (MRI/clinical)
Impairment/disability
Treatment history
Comorbidities
Biomarkers (eg, Anti-JCV Ab)
Label
Reimbursement/access to drug
Shared Treatment
Decision
Shared treatment decision
that optimally weighs these
considerations to arrive at
the therapy that best meets
the patient’s needs
JCV=JC virus; Ab=antibody; NAb=neutralizing antibody.
X Y Z
Right Therapy, Right Patient, Right Time
Key Treatment Decision Steps
Monitoring:
Choosing therapy
Define the individual’s
multiple sclerosis
no
Treatment failure? yes
• Patient’s preferences?
• Your choice?
Individual measures:
• Evidence of disease activity?
• Tolerability/safety?
• Adherence?
• Drug or inhibitory markers?
Monitoring
20
• Patient
• MS prognosis
• Life style and goals
• Your goals for therapy
Right Therapy, Right Patient, Right Time
Key Treatment Decision Steps
Monitoring:
Choosing therapy
X Y Z
Define the individual’s
multiple sclerosis
no
Treatment failure? yes
• Patient
• MS prognosis
• Life style and goals
• Your goals for therapy
• Patient’s preferences?
• Physician’s preferences?
Individual measures:
• Evidence of disease activity?
• Tolerability/safety?
• Adherence?
• Drug or inhibitory markers?
Monitoring
21
vs
1
2
3
Clinical
MRI
NAbs
22
100 MS patients
Who are the
responders?
23
~20%
responders
~40% suboptimal
responders
~40% nonresponders
24
Emerging Concepts in MS
NEDA (no evidence of disease activity)
TTT (treat-to-target)
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
Su
rviv
al
P=0.002 Salvage
Adjuvant
Current Treatment Goal: Treat-to-Target
No evidence of disease activity*
*Defined as no relapse, no 12-week sustained EDSS progression, no new or enlarging T2 lesions, and no Gd+ lesions.
Gd+=gadolinium-enhancing.
26
Treat-to-Target Proposed NEDA Treatment
Algorithm for Relapsing MS
27
SPMS=secondary progressive MS.
No Yes
No Yes
No Yes
No Yes
1
Yes
Yes No
No
Yes
Yes
No
?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Radiologically isolated
syndrome
Clinically isolated
syndrome
Relapsing-remitting MS
(RRMS)
High risk of
conversion?
High risk of
conversion?
Active
disease?
Highly active RRMS
Highly active
disease?
Current 1st-line treatments Interferon-beta,
glatiramer acetate
6-12 monthly assessments
NAb+?
Switch?
1
Responder?
Active
disease?
Highly active
disease? Escalation therapies
natalizumab, fingolimod, mitoxantrone
6–12 monthly assessments
Too risky?
SPMS?
SPMS
Switch?
Responder?
De-escalation?
Active RRMS
Yes
Factors Predicting the Ultimate Goal of Disease
Activity Silencing
Havrdova E et al. Presented at ECTRIMS; October 13–16, 2010; Gothenburg, Sweden. Poster 905.
Havrdova E et al. Neurology 2010;74:S3-7.
Variables Associated with Overall Freedom from Disease Activity (No Clinical or MRI Activity)
over 2 Years in a Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis
AFFIRM
Patients treated with natalizumab with fewer relapses, fewer MRI lesions, and lower EDSS scores at
therapy initiation and who did not develop persistent anti-natalizumab antibodies were more likely to
achieve freedom from disease activity over the course of the 2-year AFFIRM study.
28
Variable Odds Ratio 95% CI P Value
Natalizumab-treated patients
≤3 relapses in past 3 years 1.58 1.03–2.42 0.035
Baseline EDSS score ≤2.0 1.55 1.10–2.20 0.013
No baseline Gd+ lesions 1.74 1.24–2.44 0.002
Persistently anti-natalizumab
antibody positive 0.31 0.11–0.82 <0.019
Placebo-treated patients
No baseline Gd+ lesions 5.86 1.70–20.24 0.005
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
SPRMSPretreatment
SPRMSAfter
(6)-12 Mo
RRMSPretreatment
RRMSAfter
(6)-12 Mo
HealthyControls
Potential Markers to Decrease the Future Threshold
of Tolerance for Ongoing Disease
Error bars: +/- 2 standard error.
NFL=neurofilament light; SPRMS=secondary progressive-relapsing MS; DMT=disease-modifying therapy;
IFNβ=interferon beta; GA=glatiramer acetate; RIS=radiologically isolated syndrome.
Gunnarsson M et al. Ann Neurol. 2011;69:83-89.
NFL Levels in Patients and Healthy Controls
NF
L (
ng
/L)
n=9 n=9 n=83 n=83 n=28
29
The Relapsing MS DMT Doughnut
Natalizumab
RIS or Asymptomatic MS
Fingolimod
IFNβ
or GA IFNβ
Highly Active RRMS
Inactive RRMS
CIS
Active RRMS
Suboptimal responders?
Conclusions
• We have entered a new era of personalised medicine
• Is it time for another paradigm shift?
• Should we adopt treat-to-target from our rheumatology colleagues?
• NEDA, TTT, and DAF have entered the neurology lexicon
• Who should make the decision regarding early aggressive treatment?
• Regulators
• Payers
• Neurologists
• MS patients
• What is your treatment philosophy?
• Maintenance-escalation vs induction
• Is it fair to make MS patients wait 20 years for the outcome of an
experiment before adopting the treatment paradigm of “hard
and early”?
30
DAF=disease activity free..