There were no Mobitz II or third-degree AV blocks reported in FIRST and FREEDOMS II.
"This is a good example of ‘I can’t predict who should get fingolimod, but I can say who I should be very careful with and maybe not give [them] fingolimod and give [them] something else,’ " said Dr. Robert P. Lisak, professor of neurology at Wayne State University, Detroit, and president-elect of the CMSC. "But once they’re on it, and if they don’t have other contraindications, they should be OK." Dr. Lisak was not involved in the study.
All the studies were supported by Novartis, which markets fingolimod. Dr. Hughes and another EPOC investigator have served as a speaker and/or advisory board member or received research support from Novartis and other companies involved in MS pharmaceutical research and development. Other investigators involved in the EPOC study are employees of Novartis. Dr. Lisak has received research grants from and has been an adviser for several companies, including, Avanir, Bayer, Novartis, Questcor, and Teva.
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