Five-year data supports early treatment with Novartis’ Mayzent in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
pharmafile | April 21, 2020 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development | Mayzent, Novartis, pharma
Novartis has pulled back the curtain on five-year data from an extension trial for its sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator Mayzent (siponimod), supporting its use in the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).
On entering the study, participants either continued receiving Mayzent or switched to Mayzent from placebo. When evaluated at three and six months, it was found that those who continued receiving Mayzent were observed as “significantly less likely” to see confirmed disability progression compared to those who switched.
The Mayzent group also displayed a 52% reduction in annualised relapse rate compared to the placebo switch group, and at six months of treatment the risk of confirmed worsening of cognitive impairment was 23% lower in this group as well, as measured with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test.
These benefits were sustained for up to five years in the Mayzent group; according to Novartis, these data supported the “advantages of early treatment initiation”.
Dr Bruce Cree, Clinical Research Director and George A Zimmermann Endowed Professor in Multiple Sclerosis at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, said of the findings: “These data highlight the critical importance of early treatment intervention with a disease-modifying treatment, such as Mayzent, to ensure the best possible long-term outcomes for patients with MS who are experiencing progression. It’s never too early to stay ahead of progression in multiple sclerosis, since the early identification of physical and cognitive changes – even subtle ones – can indicate MS disease progression and therefore allow for timely intervention.”
Matt Fellows
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