Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparisons of Diroximel Fumarate, Ponesimod, and Teriflunomide for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Tammy Jiang - (Author)
  • Tjalf Ziemssen - , Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Sibyl Wray - (Author)
  • Changyu Shen - (Author)
  • Karin Söderbärg - (Author)
  • James B. Lewin - (Author)
  • Ivan Božin - (Author)
  • Mark S. Freedman - (Author)

Abstract

Introduction: Diroximel fumarate (DRF), ponesimod (PON), and teriflunomide (TERI) are oral disease-modifying therapies approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis. No randomized trials have compared DRF versus PON or TERI. Objectives: The objectives of this analysis were to compare DRF versus PON and DRF versus TERI for clinical and radiological outcomes. Methods: We used individual patient data from EVOLVE-MS-1, a 2-year, open-label, single-arm, phase III trial of DRF (n = 1057), and aggregated data from OPTIMUM, a 2-year, double-blind, phase III trial comparing PON (n = 567) and TERI (n = 566). To account for cross-trial differences, EVOLVE-MS-1 data were weighted to match OPTIMUM’s average baseline characteristics using an unanchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison. We examined the outcomes of annualized relapse rate (ARR), 12-week confirmed disability progression (CDP), 24-week CDP, absence of gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 lesions, and absence of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions. Results: After weighting, we did not observe strong evidence of differences between DRF and PON for ARR [DRF versus PON incidence rate difference (IRD) −0.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.08, 0.04; incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.92; 95% CI 0.61, 1.2], 12-week CDP [risk difference (RD) −2.5%; 95% CI −6.3, 1.2; risk ratio (RR) 0.76; 95% CI 0.38, 1.1], 24-week CDP (RD −2.7%; 95% CI −6.0, 0.63; RR 0.68; 95% CI 0.28, 1.0), and absence of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions (RD −2.5%; 95% CI −13, 7.4; RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.70, 1.2). However, a higher proportion of DRF-treated patients were free of Gd+ T1 lesions than PON-treated patients (RD 11%; 95% CI 6.0, 16; RR 1.1; 95% CI 1.06, 1.2). Compared with TERI, DRF showed improved ARR (IRD −0.08; 95% CI −0.15, −0.01; IRR 0.74; 95% CI 0.50, 0.94), 12-week CDP (RD −4.2%; 95% CI −7.9, −0.48; RR 0.67; 95% CI 0.38, 0.90), 24-week CDP (RD −4.3%; 95% CI −7.7, −1.1; RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.26, 0.81), and absence of Gd+ T1 lesions (RD 25%; 95% CI 19, 30; RR 1.4; 95% CI 1.3, 1.5). However, DRF and TERI did not appear to differ significantly with respect to absence of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions when based on comparisons using the overall EVOLVE-MS-1 sample (RD 8.5%; 95% CI −0.93, 18; RR 1.3; 95% CI 0.94, 1.6), or in a sensitivity analysis restricted to newly enrolled EVOLVE-MS-1 patients (RD 2.7%; 95% CI −9.1, 14; RR 1.1; 95% CI 0.68, 1.5). Conclusions: We did not observe differences between DRF and PON for ARR, CDP, and absence of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions, but there was a higher proportion of patients free of Gd+ T1 lesions among DRF-treated patients than PON-treated patients. DRF had improved efficacy versus TERI for all clinical and radiological outcomes, except for absence of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions. Clinical Trials Registration: EVOLVE-MS-1 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02634307); OPTIMUM (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02425644).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)441-452
Number of pages12
JournalCNS drugs
Volume37
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - May 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85158078042

Keywords