Data have shown that CD20-expressing B cells are crucial to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). First approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for MS in 2017, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapies including ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, and ublituximab have proven effective at controlling the symptoms of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
In this ReCAP, Dr Fred D. Lublin, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, discusses recent data on anti-CD20 agents for RRMS, including results presented at the 2024 meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
He discusses a protocol examining the effect on RRMS of extending dosage intervals or stopping anti-CD20 therapy after 1 or 2 years of treatment based on results suggesting that the B cells that return post depletion are predominantly regulatory rather than pathogenic.
Next, Dr Lublin discusses a paper presented at CMSC on risks for serious infections in individuals taking ocrelizumab or ofatumumab. Major predictors were found to be progressive disease, prior use of a disease-modifying therapy, and longer duration of therapy.
Finally, he considers recent studies comparing rituximab, an anti-CD20 therapy not approved for MS in the United States but commonly used off-label internationally, with more recent therapies such as ocrelizumab. Data currently indicate that an increased risk for infections are associated with rituximab vs ocrelizumab, but further research is under way.
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Fred D. Lublin, MD, Director, The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Fred D. Lublin, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Sources of Funding for Research: Novartis; Biogen; Sanofi; NMSS; NIH; Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics
Consulting Agreements/Advisory Boards/DSMB: Biogen; EMD Serono; Novartis; Actelion/Janssen; Sanofi/Genzyme; Roche/Genentech; Horizon Therapeutics/Amgen; Bristol Myers Squibb; Mapi Pharma; Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics; Mylan/Viatris; Immunic; Avotres; Neurogene; LabCorp; Entelexo Biotherapeutics; Neuralight; SetPoint Medical; Hexal/Sandoz; Baim Institute; Sudo Biosciences; Lapix Therapeutics; Biohaven Pharmaceuticals; Abata Therapeutics; Cognito Therapeutics; ImmPACT Bio
Speaker: Sanofi
Stock Options: Avotres; Neuralight; Lapix Therapeutics; Entelexo
I may discuss unapproved agents that are in the MS developmental pipeline without any recommendation on their use.