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Akatani R, Chihara N, Koto S, Mori S, Kurimoto T, Nakamura M, Tachibana H, Otsuka Y, Ueda T, Omori T, Sekiguchi K, Matsumoto R. Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil for steroid reduction in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a prospective cohort study. Immunol Med 2024; 47:85-92. [PMID: 38235761 DOI: 10.1080/25785826.2024.2304364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect multiple generations and cause complications with long-term prednisolone treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in preventing NMOSD relapse while reducing prednisolone dosage. The trial involved nine patients with NMOSD who received MMF along with prednisolone dose reduction. MMF was effective in achieving prednisolone dose reduction without relapse in 77.8% of patients, with a significant decrease in mean annualized relapse rate. All adverse events were mild. The findings suggest that MMF could be a viable treatment option for middle-aged and older patients who require steroid reduction.Clinical trial registration number: jRCT, jRCTs051180080. Registered February 27th, 2019-retrospectively registered, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs051180080.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritsu Akatani
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Norio Chihara
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shusuke Koto
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Sotaro Mori
- Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takuji Kurimoto
- Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Makoto Nakamura
- Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hisatsugu Tachibana
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Otsuka
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takehiro Ueda
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takashi Omori
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji Sekiguchi
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Riki Matsumoto
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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Pittock SJ, Barnett M, Bennett JL, Berthele A, de Sèze J, Levy M, Nakashima I, Oreja-Guevara C, Palace J, Paul F, Pozzilli C, Yountz M, Allen K, Mashhoon Y, Kim HJ. Ravulizumab in Aquaporin-4-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder. Ann Neurol 2023; 93:1053-1068. [PMID: 36866852 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE CHAMPION-NMOSD (NCT04201262) is a phase 3, open-label, externally controlled interventional study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the terminal complement inhibitor ravulizumab in adult patients with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody-positive (AQP4+) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Ravulizumab binds the same complement component 5 epitope as the approved therapeutic eculizumab but has a longer half-life, enabling an extended dosing interval (8 vs 2 weeks). METHODS The availability of eculizumab precluded the use of a concurrent placebo control in CHAMPION-NMOSD; consequently, the placebo group of the eculizumab phase 3 trial PREVENT (n = 47) was used as an external comparator. Patients received weight-based intravenous ravulizumab on day 1 and maintenance doses on day 15, then once every 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was time to first adjudicated on-trial relapse. RESULTS The primary endpoint was met; no patients taking ravulizumab (n = 58) had an adjudicated relapse (during 84.0 patient-years of treatment) versus 20 patients with adjudicated relapses in the placebo group of PREVENT (during 46.9 patient-years; relapse risk reduction = 98.6%, 95% confidence interval = 89.7%-100.0%, p < 0.0001). Median (range) study period follow-up time was 73.5 (11.0-117.7) weeks for ravulizumab. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild/moderate; no deaths were reported. Two patients taking ravulizumab experienced meningococcal infections. Both recovered with no sequelae; one continued ravulizumab treatment. INTERPRETATION Ravulizumab significantly reduced relapse risk in patients with AQP4+ NMOSD, with a safety profile consistent with those of eculizumab and ravulizumab across all approved indications. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:1053-1068.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J Pittock
- Department of Neurology, Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Michael Barnett
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jeffrey L Bennett
- Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Programs in Neuroscience and Immunology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Achim Berthele
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jérôme de Sèze
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Investigation Center, Strasbourg University Hospital Center, Strasbourg, France
| | - Michael Levy
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ichiro Nakashima
- Division of Neurology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Celia Oreja-Guevara
- Department of Neurology, San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacqueline Palace
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Friedemann Paul
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carlo Pozzilli
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Ho Jin Kim
- Department of Neurology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea
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Kim W, Kim HJ. An update on biologic treatments for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2023; 19:111-121. [PMID: 36414430 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2023.2151441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system mediated by antibodies targeting the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel expressed on astrocytes. The binding of specific antibodies to AQP4 causes complement-dependent cytotoxicity, leading to inflammation and demyelination. Several recent phase 2 and 3 randomized placebo-controlled trials showed the efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibody therapies targeting B-cells, interleukin-6 receptor, and complement. AREAS COVERED Current biologic treatments for NMOSD and developments therein, and unresolved issues in NMOSD treatment. EXPERT OPINION New biologic treatments demonstrate high efficacy and good safety for patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD. The optimal therapeutics for seronegative NMOSD, pediatric patients, and female patients who are pregnant or wish to be are unclear, and further research is needed. Also, real-world studies of new biological agents and the data on the durability of their beneficial effects and their long-term safety are required. Effective rescue therapy for an acute attack is critical given permanent disability in NMOSD is attack-related, and biologic agents that treat acute attack are emerging. If such treatments are to become widely applied, studies on the most cost-effective treatment strategies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woojun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Jin Kim
- Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
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