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Sguigna PV, Hussain RZ, Okai A, Blackburn KM, Tardo L, Madinawala M, Korich J, Lebson LA, Kaplan J, Salter A, Manouchehri N, Stuve O. Cladribine tablets after treatment with natalizumab (CLADRINA) - rationale and design. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2024; 17:17562864241233858. [PMID: 38585373 PMCID: PMC10996356 DOI: 10.1177/17562864241233858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Individual disease modifying therapies approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) have limited effectiveness and potentially serious side effects, especially when administered over long periods. Sequential combination therapy is a plausible alternative approach. Natalizumab is a monoclonal therapeutic antibody that reduces leukocyte access to the central nervous system that is associated with an increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and disease reactivation after its discontinuation. Cladribine tablets act as a synthetic adenosine analog, disrupting DNA synthesis and repair, thereby reducing the number of lymphocytes. The generation of prospective, rigorous safety, and efficacy data in transitioning from natalizumab to cladribine is an unmet clinical need. Objectives To test the feasibility of transitioning patients with relapsing forms of MS natalizumab to cladribine tablets. Design Cladribine tablets after treatment with natalizumab (CLADRINA) is an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, collaborative phase IV, research study that will generate hypothesis regarding the safety, efficacy, and immunological impact of transition from natalizumab to cladribine tablets in patients with relapsing forms of MS. Methods and analysis Participants will be recruited from three different sites. The primary endpoint is the absolute and percent change from baseline of lymphocytes and myeloid cell subsets, as well as blood neurofilament light levels. The secondary endpoint is the annualized relapse rate over the 12- and 24-month trial periods. Exploratory endpoints include the expanded disability status scale, and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes. Discussion The CLADRINA trial will generate data regarding the safety, efficacy, and immunological impact of the transition from natalizumab to cladribine. As the pace of immunological knowledge of MS continues, insight into disease modifying therapy transition strategies is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter V. Sguigna
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rehana Z. Hussain
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Annette Okai
- North Texas Institute of Neurology & Headache, Plano, TX, USA
| | - Kyle M. Blackburn
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lauren Tardo
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mariam Madinawala
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Julie Korich
- EMD Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA, USA, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lori A. Lebson
- EMD Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA, USA, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jeffrey Kaplan
- Kansas City Multiple Sclerosis and Headache Center, Overland Park, KS, USA
| | - Amber Salter
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Navid Manouchehri
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Olaf Stuve
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8813, USA
- Neurology Section, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX, USA
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Cortese R, Testa G, Assogna F, De Stefano N. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence Supporting the Efficacy of Cladribine Tablets in the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. CNS Drugs 2024; 38:267-279. [PMID: 38489020 PMCID: PMC10980660 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-024-01074-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Numerous therapies are currently available to modify the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in assessing treatment response by providing insights into disease activity and clinical progression. Integrating MRI findings with clinical and laboratory data enables a comprehensive assessment of the disease course. Among available MS treatments, cladribine is emerging as a promising option due to its role as a selective immune reconstitution therapy, with a notable impact on B cells and a lesser effect on T cells. This work emphasizes the assessment of MRI's contribution to MS treatment, particularly focusing on the influence of cladribine tablets on imaging outcomes, encompassing data from pivotal and real-world studies. The evidence highlights that cladribine, compared with placebo, not only exhibits a reduction in inflammatory imaging markers, such as T1-Gd+, T2 and combined unique active (CUA) lesions, but also mitigates the effect on brain volume loss, particularly within grey matter. Importantly, cladribine reveals early action by reducing CUA lesions within the first months of treatment, regardless of a patient's initial conditions. The selective mechanism of action, and sustained efficacy beyond year 2, combined with its early onset of action, collectively position cladribine tablets as a pivotal component in the therapeutic paradigm for MS. Overall, MRI, along with clinical measures, has played a substantial role in showcasing the effectiveness of cladribine in addressing both the inflammatory and neurodegenerative aspects of MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Cortese
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Testa
- Merck Serono S.p.A. Italy, An Affiliate of Merck KGaA, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Nicola De Stefano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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Holm Hansen R, von Essen MR, Reith Mahler M, Cobanovic S, Sellebjerg F. Sustained effects on immune cell subsets and autoreactivity in multiple sclerosis patients treated with oral cladribine. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1327672. [PMID: 38433828 PMCID: PMC10904620 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1327672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cladribine tablet therapy is an efficacious treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, we showed that one year after the initiation of cladribine treatment, T and B cell crosstalk was impaired, reducing potentially pathogenic effector functions along with a specific reduction of autoreactivity to RAS guanyl releasing protein 2 (RASGRP2). In the present study we conducted a longitudinal analysis of the effect of cladribine treatment in patients with RRMS, focusing on the extent to which the effects observed on T and B cell subsets and autoreactivity after one year of treatment are maintained, modulated, or amplified during the second year of treatment. Methods In this case-control exploratory study, frequencies and absolute counts of peripheral T and B cell subsets and B cell cytokine production from untreated patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and patients treated with cladribine for 52 (W52), 60 (W60), 72 (W72) and 96 (W96) weeks, were measured using flow cytometry. Autoreactivity was assessed using a FluoroSpot assay. Results We found a substantial reduction in circulating memory B cells and proinflammatory B cell responses. Furthermore, we observed reduced T cell responses to autoantigens possibly presented by B cells (RASGRP2 and a-B crystallin (CRYAB)) at W52 and W96 and a further reduction in responses to the myelin antigens myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) after 96 weeks. Conclusion We conclude that the effects of cladribine observed after year one are maintained and, for some effects, even increased two years after the initiation of a full course of treatment with cladribine tablets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikke Holm Hansen
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Marina Rode von Essen
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mie Reith Mahler
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Stefan Cobanovic
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Finn Sellebjerg
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Marastoni D, Foschi M, Eccher C, Crescenzo F, Mazziotti V, Tamanti A, Bajrami A, Camera V, Ziccardi S, Guandalini M, Bosello F, Anni D, Virla F, Turano E, Romoli M, Mariotti R, Pizzini FB, Bonetti B, Calabrese M. CSF levels of Chitinase3like1 correlate with early response to cladribine in multiple sclerosis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1343892. [PMID: 38404586 PMCID: PMC10885800 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1343892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cladribine has been introduced as a high-efficacy drug for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Initial cohort studies showed early disease activity in the first year after drug initiation. Biomarkers that can predict early disease activity are needed. Aim To estimate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of clinical and radiological responses after initiation of cladribine. Methods Forty-two RRMS patients (30F/12M) treated with cladribine were included in a longitudinal prospective study. All patients underwent a CSF examination at treatment initiation, clinical follow-up including Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) assessment, and a 3T MRI scan after 6,12 and 24 months, including the evaluation of white matter (WM) and cortical lesions (CLs). CSF levels of 67 inflammatory markers were assessed with immune-assay multiplex techniques. The 'no evidence of disease activity' (NEDA-3) status was assessed after two years and defined by no relapses, no disability worsening measured by EDSS and no MRI activity, including CLs. Results Three patients were lost at follow-up. At the end of follow-up, 19 (48%) patients remained free from disease activity. IFNgamma, Chitinase3like1, IL32, Osteopontin, IL12(p40), IL34, IL28A, sTNFR2, IL20 and CCL2 showed the best association with disease activity. When added in a multivariate regression model including age, sex, and baseline EDSS, Chitinase 3 like1 (p = 0.049) significantly increased in those patients with disease activity. Finally, ROC analysis with Chitinase3like1 added to a model with EDSS, sex, age previous relapses, WM lesion number, CLs, number of Gad enhancing lesions and spinal cord lesions provided an AUC of 0.76 (95%CI 0.60-0.91). Conclusions CSF Chitinase 3 like1 might provide prognostic information for predicting disease activity in the first years after initiation of cladribine. The drug's effect on chronic macrophage and microglia activation deserves further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marastoni
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Foschi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Multiple Sclerosis Center, S. Maria delle Croci Hospital, AUSL, Romagna, Ravenna, Italy
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Chiara Eccher
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Mazziotti
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Agnese Tamanti
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Albulena Bajrami
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Valentina Camera
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Ziccardi
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Maddalena Guandalini
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Bosello
- Eye Clinic, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Maternity, and Infant, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniela Anni
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Federica Virla
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ermanna Turano
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Romoli
- Neurology and Stroke Unit, Ospedale “Bufalini”, Cesena, Italy
| | - Raffaella Mariotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Bruno Bonetti
- Neurology A, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Calabrese
- Neurology B, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Deftereos SN, Vavougios GD, Bakirtzis C, Hadjigeorgiou G, Grigoriadis N. Effects of High Efficacy Multiple Sclerosis Disease Modifying Drugs on the Immune Synapse: A Systematic Review. Curr Pharm Des 2024; 30:536-551. [PMID: 38343058 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128288102240131053205] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Co-signaling and adhesion molecules are important elements for creating immune synapses between T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; they positively or negatively regulate the interaction between a T cell receptor with its cognate antigen, presented by the major histocompatibility complex. OBJECTIVES We conducted a systematic review on the effects of High Efficacy Disease Modifying Drugs (HEDMDs) for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) on the co-signaling and adhesion molecules that form the immune synapse. METHODS We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, and other sources to identify clinical or preclinical reports on the effects of HEDMDs on co-signaling and adhesion molecules that participate in the formation of immune synapses in patients with MS or other autoimmune disorders. We included reports on cladribine tablets, anti- CD20 monoclonal antibodies, S1P modulators, inhibitors of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase, and natalizumab. RESULTS In 56 eligible reports among 7340 total publications, limited relevant evidence was uncovered. Not all co-signaling and adhesion molecules have been studied in relation to every HEDMD, with more data being available on the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (that affect CD80, CD86, GITR and TIGIT), cladribine tablets (affecting CD28, CD40, ICAM-1, LFA-1) and the S1P modulators (affecting CD86, ICAM-1 and LFA-1) and less on Natalizumab (affecting CD80, CD86, CD40, LFA-1, VLA-4) and Alemtuzumab (affecting GITR and CTLA-4). CONCLUSION The puzzle of HEDMD effects on the immune synapse is far from complete. The available evidence suggests that distinguishing differences exist between drugs and are worth pursuing further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyros N Deftereos
- Second Department of Neurology, Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education (S.U.B.R.E.), School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Merck S.A., Greece, an Affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - George D Vavougios
- Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christos Bakirtzis
- Second Department of Neurology, Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education (S.U.B.R.E.), School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George Hadjigeorgiou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Nikolaos Grigoriadis
- Second Department of Neurology, Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education (S.U.B.R.E.), School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Butzkueven H, Hillert J, Soilu-Hänninen M, Ziemssen T, Kuhle J, Wergeland S, Magyari M, Berger JR, Moore N, Aydemir A, Bezemer I, Sabidó M. The CLARION study: first report on safety findings in patients newly initiating treatment with cladribine tablets or fingolimod for multiple sclerosis. Curr Med Res Opin 2023; 39:1367-1374. [PMID: 37675878 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2023.2256220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As part of the CLARION study: (1) characterize the incidence of severe infections, herpes zoster, and malignancies in patients newly initiating cladribine or fingolimod for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS); (2) estimate the incidence of severe lymphopenia among cladribine users; and (3) describe prior/subsequent disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in both cohorts. METHODS Patients were identified from seven participating MS registries/data sources. The incidence rate (IR) of each outcome per 1000 patient-years and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were estimated for cohorts using Poisson regression. RESULTS By cut-off date (01-April-2020), 742 cladribine and 867 fingolimod users were included. Mean follow-up was ∼1 year. The IR for severe infections from all contributing sources (except Denmark) was: cladribine, 7.37 (2.76,19.6); fingolimod, 6.55 (2.46,17.4). The corresponding IR for herpes zoster was 5.51 (1.78,17.1) and 3.27 (0.82,13.1), respectively, while values for opportunistic infections were 0 (0,6.76) and 1.63 (0.23,11.6), respectively. There were no events of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in either cohort. The IR of severe lymphopenia was 63.9 (40.7,100.1) in 349 cladribine users from contributing sources. The IR of malignancies (cut-off date 01-April-2022) was 3.55 (1.59,7.90) for the cladribine cohort (n = 1035) and 3.55 (1.48,8.52) for the fingolimod cohort (n = 843) from three MS registries/data sources. In the combined data sources, 36.8% of cladribine and 27.4% of fingolimod users were DMT-naïve; after initiation of study treatment, 2.5% and 20.2% switched to another DMT, respectively. CONCLUSION No new safety signal was observed in patients treated with cladribine tablets, although results are limited by a relatively short duration of follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Butzkueven
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jan Hillert
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Merja Soilu-Hänninen
- Turku University Hospital Neurocenter and Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Multiple Sclerosis Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stig Wergeland
- Norwegian MS Registry and Biobank, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Melinda Magyari
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joseph R Berger
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas Moore
- Bordeaux PharmacoEpi (BPE), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Aida Aydemir
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc, Billerica, MA, USA, an affiliate of Merck KGaA
| | - Irene Bezemer
- Global Epidemiology, IQVIA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Carlini F, Lusi V, Rizzi C, Assogna F, Laroni A. Cladribine Tablets Mode of Action, Learning from the Pandemic: A Narrative Review. Neurol Ther 2023; 12:1477-1490. [PMID: 37421556 PMCID: PMC10444742 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-023-00520-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system, characterized by chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative processes. MS management relies on disease-modifying drugs that suppress/modulate the immune system. Cladribine tablets (CladT) have been approved by different health authorities for patients with various forms of relapsing MS. The drug has been demonstrated to deplete CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, with a higher effect described in the former, and to decrease total CD19+, CD20+, and naive B-cell counts. COVID-19 is expected to become endemic, suggesting its potential infection risk for immuno-compromised patients, including MS patients treated with disease-modifying drugs. We report here the available data on disease-modifying drug-treated-MS patients and COVID-19 infection and vaccination, with a focus on CladT. MS patients treated with CladT are not at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19. While anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is recommended in all MS patients with guidelines addressing vaccination timing according to the different disease-modifying drugs, no vaccination timing restrictions seem to be necessary for cladribine, based on its mechanism of action and available evidence. Published data suggest that CladT treatment does not impact the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination, possibly due to its relative sparing effect on naïve B-cells and the rapid B-cell reconstitution following treatment. Slightly lower specific T-cell responses are likely not impacting the risk of breakthrough COVID-19. It could be stated that cladribine's transient effect on innate immune cells likely contributes to maintaining an adequate first line of defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Carlini
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Lusi
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genoa, Italy
| | - Caterina Rizzi
- Merck Serono S.P.A., Italy an Affiliate of Merck KGaA, Piazza del Pigneto 9, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Assogna
- Merck Serono S.P.A., Italy an Affiliate of Merck KGaA, Piazza del Pigneto 9, Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Laroni
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genoa, Italy.
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Largo Daneo 3, Genoa, Italy.
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Clavelou P, Castelnovo G, Pourcher V, De Sèze J, Vermersch P, Ben-Amor AF, Savarin C, Defer G. Expert Narrative Review of the Safety of Cladribine Tablets for the Management of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. Neurol Ther 2023; 12:1457-1476. [PMID: 37382841 PMCID: PMC10444734 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-023-00496-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cladribine tablets (CladT) is a highly active oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for the management of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). CladT acts as an immune reconstitution therapy, in that two short courses of treatment 1 year apart have been shown to suppress disease activity for a prolonged period in most patients, without need for continued DMT. Each course of CladT induces a profound reduction in B lymphocytes that recovers over months, and serious lymphopenia (Grade 3-4) is uncommon. Smaller reductions in levels of T lymphocytes occur slightly later: on average, these remain within the normal range and repopulate progressively. A larger effect occurs on CD8 vs. CD4 cells. Reactivation of latent or opportunistic infections (e.g. varicella zoster, tuberculosis) is mostly associated with very low lymphocyte counts (< 200/mm3). Screening and managing pre-existing infections, vaccinating non-exposed patients and delaying the 2nd year of treatment with CladT to allow lymphocytes to recover to > 800/mm3 (if necessary) are important for avoiding infections and higher-grade lymphopenia. There was no demonstrable or apparent effect of CladT on the efficacy of vaccinations, including against Covid-19. Adverse events consistent with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) represent a rare but potentially serious complication of CladT therapy in spontaneous adverse event reporting; patients should be screened for liver dysfunction before starting treatment. Ongoing hepatic monitoring is not required, but CladT must be withdrawn if signs and symptoms of DILI develop. There was a numerical imbalance for malignancies when comparing cladribine to placebo in the clinical programme, particularly in short-term data, but recent evidence shows that the risk of malignancy with CladT is similar to the background rate in the general population and to that with other DMTs. Overall, CladT is well tolerated with a favorable safety profile appropriate for the management of RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Clavelou
- Department of Neurology, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, 58 Rue Montalembert, 63003, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1, France.
| | - Giovanni Castelnovo
- Department of Neurology, Nîmes University Hospital, Hopital Caremeau, Nîmes, France
| | - Valérie Pourcher
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Sorbonne Université, INSERM 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jerome De Sèze
- Department of Neurology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Patrick Vermersch
- Univ. Lille, Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, Lille, France
| | - Ali-Frederic Ben-Amor
- Global Medical Affairs Neurology and Immunology, Ares Trading SA (An affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Carine Savarin
- Neurology Department, Medical Affairs (An affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Merck Santé, Lyon, France
| | - Gilles Defer
- Department of Neurology, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France
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9
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Holm Hansen R, von Essen MR, Mahler MR, Cobanovic S, Binko TS, Sellebjerg F. Cladribine Effects on T and B Cells and T Cell Reactivity in Multiple Sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2023; 94:518-530. [PMID: 37191113 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cladribine tablet therapy is an efficacious treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), however, its mechanism of action on T and B cell subsets remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatment effects of cladribine on the peripheral pool of T and B cells subsets and reactivity toward central nervous system (CNS) antigens. METHODS In this cross-sectional exploratory study, frequencies and absolute counts of peripheral T and B cell subsets and B cell cytokine production from untreated patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and patients treated with cladribine for 1 year were measured using flow cytometry. Autoreactivity was assessed using a FluoroSpot assay. RESULTS We found that 1 year after initiation of cladribine treatment, a lower number of CD4+ T cells was persisting whereas CD19+ B cell counts were normalized compared to untreated patients with RRMS. Follicular helper T cells and their effecter subsets producing cytokines exerting distinct B cell helper activity were lower and, additionally, the peripheral B cell pool was skewed toward a naïve and anti-inflammatory phenotype. Finally, reactivity to the recently identified CNS-enriched autoantigen RAS guanyl-releasing protein 2 (RASGRP2), but not to myelin basic protein and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, was lower in cladribine-treated patients. INTERPRETATION Together, these investigations on T and B cell subsets suggest that cladribine treatment impairs the B-T cell crosstalk and reduces their ability to mediate pathogenic effector functions. This may result in specific reduction of autoreactivity to RASGRP2 which is expressed in B cells and brain tissue. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:518-530.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikke Holm Hansen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Marina Rode von Essen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mie Reith Mahler
- Department of Neurology, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Stefan Cobanovic
- Department of Neurology, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Tomas Sorm Binko
- Department of Neurology, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Finn Sellebjerg
- Department of Neurology, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Inshasi J, Farouk S, Shatila A, Hassan A, Szolics M, Thakre M, Kayed D, Krieger D, Almadani A, Alsaadi T, Benedetti B, Mifsud V, Jacob A, Sayegh S, Boshra A, Alroughani R. Multicentre Observational Study of Treatment Satisfaction with Cladribine Tablets in the Management of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis in the Arabian Gulf: The CLUE Study. Neurol Ther 2023; 12:1309-1318. [PMID: 37289421 PMCID: PMC10310633 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-023-00497-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Inconvenient administration and side effects of some disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) can deter adherence. We evaluated treatment satisfaction with cladribine tablets (CladT) for RMS in the Arabian Gulf. METHODS This was a non-interventional, multicentre, prospective observational study in non-pregnant/lactating adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with RMS eligible for 1st treatment with CladT (EU labelling). The primary outcome was overall treatment satisfaction at 6 months (Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication [TSQM]-14, v. 1.4), Global Satisfaction subscale. Secondary endpoints were TSQM-14 scores for convenience, satisfaction with side effects and satisfaction with effectiveness. Patients provided written informed consent. RESULTS Of 63 patients screened, 58 received CladT and 55 completed the study. Mean age was 33 ± 9 years; mean weight 73 ± 17 kg; 31% male/69% female; mostly from the United Arab Emirates (52%) or Kuwait (30%). All had RMS (mean 0.9 ± 1.1 relapses in the past year), mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 1.4 ± 1.2; 36% were DMT-naïve. Mean [95% CI] score was high for overall treatment satisfaction (77.8 [73.0-82.6]), ease of use (87.4 [83.7-91.0]), tolerability (94.2 [91.0-97.3]) and effectiveness (76.2 [71.6-80.7]). Scores were similar irrespective of DMT history, age, gender, relapse history or EDSS. No relapses or serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) occurred. Two severe TEAE occurred (fatigue, headache) and 16% reported lymphopenia (two cases of grade 3 lymphopenia). Absolute lymphocyte counts at baseline and 6 months were 2.2 ± 0.8 × 109/L and 1.3 ± 0.3 × 109/L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Treatment satisfaction, ease of use, tolerability and patient-perceived effectiveness for CladT were high, irrespective of baseline demographics, disease characteristics and prior treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihad Inshasi
- Rashid Hospital and Dubai Medical College and Dubai Health Authority (DHA), P.O. Box 4545, Dubai, UAE.
| | - Samar Farouk
- Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait, Kuwait
- Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | | | - Ali Hassan
- Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Miklos Szolics
- Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | | | | | | | - Abubaker Almadani
- Rashid Hospital and Dubai Medical College and Dubai Health Authority (DHA), P.O. Box 4545, Dubai, UAE
| | | | | | | | - Anu Jacob
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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11
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Brownlee WJ, Haghikia A, Hayward B, Waser N, Kayaniyil S, Khan Z, Duncan J, Millar S, Harty GT. Comparative effectiveness of cladribine tablets versus fingolimod in the treatment of highly active multiple sclerosis: A real-world study. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 76:104791. [PMID: 37343465 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104791] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cladribine tablets and fingolimod have similar marketing authorisations in Europe for the treatment of patients with highly active relapsing multiple sclerosis (HA-RMS). In the absence of direct head-to-head studies, real-world data are important to assess the comparative effectiveness of these oral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). The primary objective of the present study was to compare relapse rates between patients who received either cladribine tablets or fingolimod. METHODS This multicentre retrospective study conducted in the United Kingdom and Germany assessed non-inferiority in relapse rates of cladribine tablets versus fingolimod in HA-RMS patients over a 12-month period. Eligible patients who initiated treatment with cladribine tablets or fingolimod at least 12 months prior to the screening date were sampled consecutively until the target sample size was reached. Patients were censored at discontinuation of study treatment, commencement of another DMT, death, loss to follow-up, or at 12 months post-baseline, whichever happened earliest. The primary analytic timeframe for physician-confirmed relapse outcomes was the study effectiveness period (nine months of follow-up after an initial 12 weeks of treatment). Propensity score analysis was applied based on the inverse probability of treatment weighting approach. RESULTS The primary analytic cohort consisted of 1,095 HA-RMS patients: 610 (55.7%) receiving cladribine tablets and 485 (44.3%) receiving fingolimod. Fewer patients discontinued cladribine tablets and/or switched to another DMT compared with fingolimod (0.2% versus 3.5%, respectively). The primary endpoint, adjusted annualised relapse rate (ARR), was 0.10 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.07-0.14) for cladribine tablets and 0.14 (95% CI: 0.10-0.20) for fingolimod. The adjusted ARR ratio of cladribine tablets versus fingolimod was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.42-1.11). Given the entire 95% CI was less than the non-inferiority margin of 1.2, cladribine tablets was non-inferior to fingolimod. CONCLUSIONS In this real-world retrospective cohort study, cladribine tablets demonstrated comparable effectiveness to fingolimod at one year following treatment initiation. The full treatment dosage of cladribine tablets is completed over two years and so these results may be conservative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wallace J Brownlee
- Queen Square MS Centre, University College London Institute of Neurology and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Aiden Haghikia
- Ruhr-University Bochum & St. Josef-Hospital, Bochum, Germany
| | - Brooke Hayward
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., Billerica, MA, USA, an affiliate of Merck KGaA
| | - Nathalie Waser
- ICON plc, 3455 North Service Rd, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3G2, Canada
| | - Sheena Kayaniyil
- ICON plc, 3455 North Service Rd, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3G2, Canada
| | - Zaeem Khan
- ICON plc, 3455 North Service Rd, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3G2, Canada
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12
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Kalatskaya I, Giovannoni G, Leist T, Cerra J, Boschert U, Rolfe PA. Revealing the immune cell subtype reconstitution profile in patients from the CLARITY study using deconvolution algorithms after cladribine tablets treatment. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8067. [PMID: 37202447 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune Cell Deconvolution methods utilizing gene expression profiling to quantify immune cells in tissues and blood are an appealing alternative to flow cytometry. Our objective was to investigate the applicability of deconvolution approaches in clinical trial settings to better investigate the mode of action of drugs for autoimmune diseases. Popular deconvolution methods CIBERSORT and xCell were validated using gene expression from the publicly available GSE93777 dataset that has comprehensive matching flow cytometry. As shown in the online tool, ~ 50% of signatures show strong correlation (r > 0.5) with the remainder showing moderate correlation, or in a few cases, no correlation. Deconvolution methods were then applied to gene expression data from the phase III CLARITY study (NCT00213135) to evaluate the immune cell profile of relapsing multiple sclerosis patients treated with cladribine tablets. At 96 weeks after treatment, deconvolution scores showed the following changes vs placebo: naïve, mature, memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, non-class switched, and class switched memory B cells and plasmablasts were significantly reduced, naïve B cells and M2 macrophages were more abundant. Results confirm previously described changes in immune cell composition following cladribine tablets treatment and reveal immune homeostasis of pro- vs anti-inflammatory immune cell subtypes, potentially supporting long-term efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Kalatskaya
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA), 45 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA, 01821, USA.
| | - Gavin Giovannoni
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Leist
- Division of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Jefferson University, Comprehensive MS Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joseph Cerra
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA), 45 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA, 01821, USA
- BISC Global, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ursula Boschert
- Ares Trading S.A. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA), Eysins, Switzerland
| | - P Alexander Rolfe
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA), 45 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA, 01821, USA
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13
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Aerts S, Khan H, Severijns D, Popescu V, Peeters LM, Van Wijmeersch B. Safety and effectiveness of cladribine tablets for multiple sclerosis: Results from a single-center real-world cohort. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 75:104735. [PMID: 37192586 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cladribine tablets are a highly effective immune reconstitution therapy licensed for treating relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) in Europe since 2017. Currently, there is a high demand for real-world data from different clinical settings on the effectiveness and safety profile of cladribine in MS. METHODS Within this report, we retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of RMS patients who received cladribine between August 2018 and November 2021 at our Belgian institute. Patients with data for three effectiveness endpoints, more specifically, relapses, MRI observations, and confirmed disability worsening were incorporated into the analysis of 'no evidence of disease activity' (NEDA-3) re-baselined at 3 months. Safety endpoints included lymphopenia, liver transaminases, and adverse events (AEs) during follow-up. Descriptive statistics and time-to-event analysis were performed, including subgroup analysis by pre-treatment. RESULTS Of the 84 RMS patients included in this study (age 42 [33-50], 64.3% female, diagnosis duration 6 [2-11] years, baseline EDSS 2.5 [1.5-3.6]), 14 (16.7%) patients experienced relapses, while disability progression and brain MRI activity occurred in 8.5% (6/71) and 6.3% (5/79). This resulted in 72.6% (n = 69, standard error 6%) retaining NEDA-3 status at the mean follow-up time of 22.6 ± 11.5 months. During the first year after cladribine initiation, disease activity prevailed more in patients with ≥2 prior DMTs and those switching from fingolimod, although both trends were not statistically significant. In terms of safety, 67.9% reported at least one AE during follow-up, the most frequent being fatigue (64.9%) and skin-related problems (38.6%). CONCLUSION Overall, our research results confirm cladribine's safety and effectiveness among RMS patients in real-world conditions. After the re-baseline, we observed high rates of NEDA-3-retention, and no new safety signals were noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Aerts
- Universitair MS Centrum (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium; Noorderhart, Revalidatie en MS, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Rehabilitation Research Center, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium.
| | - Hamza Khan
- Universitair MS Centrum (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium; UHasselt, Data Science Institute, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium; The D-Lab, Department of Precision Medicine, GROW - School for Oncology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht 6229 ER, the Netherlands
| | - Deborah Severijns
- Universitair MS Centrum (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; Noorderhart, Revalidatie en MS, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Rehabilitation Research Center, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium
| | - Veronica Popescu
- Universitair MS Centrum (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium; Noorderhart, Revalidatie en MS, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium
| | - Liesbet M Peeters
- Universitair MS Centrum (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium; UHasselt, Data Science Institute, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium
| | - Bart Van Wijmeersch
- Universitair MS Centrum (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium; Noorderhart, Revalidatie en MS, Boemerangstraat 2, Pelt 3900, Belgium; UHasselt, Rehabilitation Research Center, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium
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14
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Lycett MJ, Lea RA, Maltby VE, Min M, Lechner-Scott J. The effect of cladribine on immunoglobulin levels compared to B cell targeting therapies in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin 2023; 9:20552173221149688. [PMID: 36636583 PMCID: PMC9830094 DOI: 10.1177/20552173221149688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cladribine is a useful therapeutic option in RRMS with moderate to high disease activity. Its oral formulation and tolerability make it a useful alternative to infusion therapies. Cladribine is known to deplete CD19+ B lymphocytes, but its effect on immunoglobulin subsets is unclear. Objective To identify whether cladribine therapy in pwMS reduces immunoglobulin subset levels as a surrogate marker of infection risk. Methods A 'real-world' retrospective analysis of 341 pwMS presenting to a single tertiary centre between March 2017 and July 2021. Differences in immunoglobulin levels between cladribine, other disease-modifying therapies and no active treatment were assessed using a univariate ANOVA. Results Three hundred and forty-one patients had immunoglobulin levels assessed, with 29 patients treated with cladribine. The mean IgG, IgM and IgA levels on cladribine therapy were 10.44 ± 0.40, 0.99 ± 0.09 and 2.04 ± 0.18 g/L respectively. These were not significantly different from patients not on active treatment. There was a statistically significant reduction in IgG and IgM levels for patients treated with ocrelizumab (9.37 ± 0.19 and 0.68 ± 0.04 g/L) and natalizumab (8.72 ± 0.53 and 0.69 ± 0.12 g/L) compared to patients not on treatment. Conclusion Cladribine therapy for RRMS was not associated with immunoglobulin subset deficiencies. This is contrasted to ocrelizumab and natalizumab which demonstrate significant reductions in both IgG and IgM levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell J Lycett
- Mitchell J Lycett, Department of Neurology,
John Hunter Hospital, Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
| | - Rodney A Lea
- Hunter Medical Research
Institute, New Lambton Heights,
NSW, Australia,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health,
School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin
Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Vicki E Maltby
- Department of
Neurology,
John
Hunter Hospital, New Lambton
Heights, NSW, Australia,Hunter Medical Research
Institute, New Lambton Heights,
NSW, Australia
| | - Myintzu Min
- Department of
Neurology,
John
Hunter Hospital, New Lambton
Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeannette Lechner-Scott
- Department of
Neurology,
John
Hunter Hospital, New Lambton
Heights, NSW, Australia,Hunter Medical Research
Institute, New Lambton Heights,
NSW, Australia
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15
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Zhong M, van der Walt A, Monif M, Hodgkinson S, Eichau S, Kalincik T, Lechner-Scott J, Buzzard K, Skibina O, Van Pesch V, Butler E, Prevost J, Girard M, Oh J, Butzkueven H, Jokubaitis V. Prediction of relapse activity when switching to cladribine for multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2023; 29:119-129. [PMID: 35894247 DOI: 10.1177/13524585221111677] [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: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis commonly switch between disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Identifying predictors of relapse when switching could improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE To determine predictors of relapse hazard when switching to cladribine. METHODS Data of patients who switched to cladribine, grouped by prior disease-modifying therapy (pDMT; interferon-β/glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, fingolimod or natalizumab (NTZ)), were extracted from the MSBase Registry. Predictors of relapse hazard during the treatment gap and the first year of cladribine therapy were determined. RESULTS Of 513 patients, 22 relapsed during the treatment gap, and 38 within 1 year of starting cladribine. Relapse in the year before pDMT cessation predicted treatment gap relapse hazard (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-5.71). After multivariable adjustment, relapse hazard on cladribine was predicted by relapse before pDMT cessation (HR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.01-4.02), treatment gap relapse (HR = 6.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.65-14.41), switch from NTZ (HR compared to injectable therapies 4.08, 95% CI = 1.35-12.33) and age at cladribine start (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.91-0.99). CONCLUSION Relapse during or prior to the treatment gap, and younger age, are of prognostic relevance in the year after switching to cladribine. Switching from NTZ is also independently associated with greater relapse hazard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Zhong
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anneke van der Walt
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mastura Monif
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/MS Centre, Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Sara Eichau
- Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Tomas Kalincik
- MS Centre, Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/CORe, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeannette Lechner-Scott
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia/Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, Hunter New England Health, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Buzzard
- MS Centre, Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/Department of Neurosciences, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Olga Skibina
- Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/Department of Neurosciences, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Marc Girard
- CHUM and Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jiwon Oh
- Division of Neurology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Helmut Butzkueven
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Vilija Jokubaitis
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia/Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Ruschil C, Gabernet G, Kemmerer CL, Jarboui MA, Klose F, Poli S, Ziemann U, Nahnsen S, Kowarik MC. Cladribine treatment specifically affects peripheral blood memory B cell clones and clonal expansion in multiple sclerosis patients. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1133967. [PMID: 36960053 PMCID: PMC10028280 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1133967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction B cells are acknowledged as crucial players in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Several disease modifying drugs including cladribine have been shown to exert differential effects on peripheral blood B cell subsets. However, little is known regarding functional changes within the peripheral B cell populations. In this study, we obtained a detailed picture of B cell repertoire changes under cladribine treatment on a combined immunoglobulin (Ig) transcriptome and proteome level. Methods We performed next-generation sequencing of Ig heavy chain (IGH) transcripts and Ig mass spectrometry in cladribine-treated patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (n = 8) at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of treatment in order to generate Ig transcriptome and Ig peptide libraries. Ig peptides were overlapped with the corresponding IGH transcriptome in order to analyze B cell clones on a combined transcriptome and proteome level. Results The analysis of peripheral blood B cell percentages pointed towards a significant decrease of memory B cells and an increase of naive B cells following cladribine therapy. While basic IGH repertoire parameters (e.g. variable heavy chain family usage and Ig subclasses) were only slightly affected by cladribine treatment, a significantly decreased number of clones and significantly lower diversity in the memory subset was noticeable at 6 months following treatment which was sustained at 12 months. When looking at B-cell clones comprising sequences from the different time-points, clones spanning between all three time-points were significantly more frequent than clones including sequences from two time-points. Furthermore, Ig proteome analyses showed that Ig transcriptome specific peptides could mostly be equally aligned to all three time-points pointing towards a proportion of B-cell clones that are maintained during treatment. Discussion Our findings suggest that peripheral B cell related treatment effects of cladribine tablets might be exerted through a reduction of possibly disease relevant clones in the memory B cell subset without disrupting the overall clonal composition of B cells. Our results -at least partially- might explain the relatively mild side effects regarding infections and the sustained immune response after vaccinations during treatment. However, exact disease driving B cell subsets and their effects remain unknown and should be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Ruschil
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Center for Neurology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gisela Gabernet
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Constanze Louisa Kemmerer
- Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mohamed Ali Jarboui
- Core Facility for Medical Bioanalytics (CFMB), Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Franziska Klose
- Core Facility for Medical Bioanalytics (CFMB), Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sven Poli
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Center for Neurology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Center for Neurology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sven Nahnsen
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Biomedical Data Science, Department of Computer Science, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Markus Christian Kowarik
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Center for Neurology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Markus Christian Kowarik,
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The Place of Immune Reconstitution Therapy in the Management of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis in France: An Expert Consensus. Neurol Ther 2022; 12:351-369. [PMID: 36564664 PMCID: PMC10043116 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-022-00430-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment strategy in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) is a complex decision requiring individualization of treatment sequences to maximize clinical outcomes. Current local and international guidelines do not provide specific recommendation on the use of immune reconstitution therapy (IRT) as alternative to continuous immunosuppression in the management of RMS. The objective of the program was to provide consensus-based expert opinion on the optimal use of IRT in the management of RMS. A Delphi method was performed from May 2022 to July 2022. Nineteen clinical assertions were developed by a scientific committee and sent to 14 French clinical experts in MS alongside published literature. Two consecutive reproducible anonymous votes were conducted. Consensus on recommendations was achieved when more than 75% of the respondents agreed or disagreed with the clinical assertions. After the second round, consensus was achieved amongst 16 out of 19 propositions: 13 clinical assertions had a 100% consensus, 3 clinical assertions a consensus above 75% and 3 without consensus. Expert-agreed consensus is provided on topics related to the benefit of the early use of IRT from immunological and clinical perspectives, profiles of patients who may benefit most from the IRT strategy (e.g. patients with family planning, patient preference and lifestyle requirements). These French expert consensuses provide up-to-date relevant guidance on the use of IRT in clinical practice. The current program reflects status of knowledge in 2022 and should be updated in timely manner when further clinical data in IRT become available.
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Liu C, Zhu J, Mi Y, Jin T. Impact of disease-modifying therapy on dendritic cells and exploring their immunotherapeutic potential in multiple sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:298. [PMID: 36510261 PMCID: PMC9743681 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02663-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which play a pivotal role in inducing either inflammatory or tolerogenic response based on their subtypes and environmental signals. Emerging evidence indicates that DCs are critical for initiation and progression of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Current disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for MS can significantly affect DCs' functions. However, the study on the impact of DMT on DCs is rare, unlike T and B lymphocytes that are the most commonly discussed targets of these therapies. Induction of tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) with powerful therapeutic potential has been well-established to combat autoimmune responses in laboratory models and early clinical trials. In contrast to in vitro tolDC induction, in vivo elicitation by specifically targeting multiple cell-surface receptors has shown greater promise with more advantages. Here, we summarize the role of DCs in governing immune tolerance and in the process of initiating and perpetuating MS as well as the effects of current DMT drugs on DCs. We then highlight the most promising cell-surface receptors expressed on DCs currently being explored as the viable pharmacological targets through antigen delivery to generate tolDCs in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Liu
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China ,grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences & Society, Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yan Mi
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tao Jin
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Wiendl H, Schmierer K, Hodgkinson S, Derfuss T, Chan A, Sellebjerg F, Achiron A, Montalban X, Prat A, De Stefano N, Barkhof F, Leocani L, Vermersch P, Chudecka A, Mwape C, Holmberg KH, Boschert U, Roy S. Specific Patterns of Immune Cell Dynamics May Explain the Early Onset and Prolonged Efficacy of Cladribine Tablets: A MAGNIFY-MS Substudy. NEUROLOGY(R) NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2022; 10:10/1/e200048. [PMID: 36411081 PMCID: PMC9679889 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cladribine tablets cause a reduction in lymphocytes with a predominant effect on B-cell and T-cell counts. The MAGNIFY-MS substudy reports the dynamic changes on multiple peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subtypes and immunoglobulin (Ig) levels over 12 months after the first course of cladribine tablets in patients with highly active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Immunophenotyping was performed at baseline (predose) and at the end of months 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 after initiating treatment with cladribine tablets. Assessments included lymphocyte subtype counts of CD19+ B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD16+ natural killer cells, plasmablasts, and Igs. Immune cell subtypes were analyzed by flow cytometry, and serum IgG and IgM were analyzed by nephelometric assay. Absolute cell counts and percentage change from baseline were assessed. RESULTS The full analysis set included 57 patients. Rapid reductions in median CD19+, CD20+, memory, activated, and naive B-cell counts were detected, reaching nadir by month 2. Thereafter, total CD19+, CD20+, and naive B-cell counts subsequently reconstituted, but memory B cells remained reduced by 93%-87% for the remainder of the study. The decrease in plasmablasts was slower, reaching nadir at month 3. Decrease in T-cell subtypes was also slower and more moderate compared with B-cell subtypes, reaching nadir between months 3 and 6. IgG and IgM levels remained within the normal range over the 12-month study period. DISCUSSION Cladribine tablets induce a specific pattern of early and sustained PBMC subtype dynamics in the absence of relevant Ig changes: While total B cells were reduced dramatically, T cells were affected significantly less. Naive B cells recovered toward baseline, naive CD4 and CD8 T cells did not, and memory B cells remained reduced. The results help to explain the unique immune depletion and repopulation architecture regarding onset of action and durability of effects of cladribine tablets while largely maintaining immune competence. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03364036. Date registered: December 06, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heinz Wiendl
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Klaus Schmierer
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Suzanne Hodgkinson
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Tobias Derfuss
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Andrew Chan
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Finn Sellebjerg
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Anat Achiron
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Xavier Montalban
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Alexandre Prat
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicola De Stefano
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Letizia Leocani
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Patrick Vermersch
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Anita Chudecka
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Claire Mwape
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Kristina H Holmberg
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ursula Boschert
- From the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Australia; The Blizard Institute (K.S.), Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience) (K.S.), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, UK; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (S.H.), University of New South Wales Medicine, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology (T.D.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology (Andrew Chan), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Danish MS Center (F.S.), Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (F.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Multiple Sclerosis Center (A.A.), Sheba Academic Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine (A.A.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology (X.M.), Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosciences and CRCHUM (A.P.), Université de Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences (N.D.S.), University of Siena, Italy; Department of Radiology (F.B.), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; UCL Institute of Neurology (F.B.), London, UK; Experimental Neurophysiology Unit (L.L.), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Univ. Lille (P.V.), Inserm U1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, France; Cytel Inc (Anita Chudecka), Geneva, Switzerland; InScience Communications (C.M.), Springer Healthcare Ltd, Chester, UK; EMD Serono (K.H.H.), Billerica, MA; and Ares Trading SA (U.B., S.R.), Eysins, Switzerland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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Treatment with Cladribine Tablets Beyond Year 4: A Position Statement by Southeast European Multiple Sclerosis Centers. Neurol Ther 2022; 12:25-37. [PMID: 36394714 PMCID: PMC9672547 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-022-00422-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the results of the pivotal CLARITY study, cladribine tablets were approved for use in the European Union in 2017 as a high-efficacy therapy for highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Cladribine tablets are used as an induction therapy: half of the total dose is given in year 1 and the other half in year 2. In the CLARITY Extension trials, repeating the dose routinely in years 3 and 4, was not associated with significantly improved disease control. However, there is very limited evidence on how to manage people with MS (pwMS) beyond year 4, which is increasingly important because more and more patients are now ≥ 4 years after cladribine treatment. Overall, postapproval data show that treatment with two cladribine cycles effectively controls disease activity in the long term. However, there is general agreement that some pwMS with suboptimal response could benefit from retreatment. This study reviews the practical aspects of using cladribine tablets, summarizes the evidence from clinical trials and real-world studies on the safety and efficacy of cladribine, and proposes a treatment algorithm developed by expert consensus for pwMS previously treated with cladribine. In brief, we propose that additional courses of cladribine tablets should be considered in patients with minimal (no relapses, 1-2 new lesions) or moderate (1 relapse, 3-4 new lesions) disease activity, while significant disease activity (> 1 relapse, > 3 new lesions) or progression should warrant a switch to another high-efficacy treatment (HET). More evidence is needed to improve the treatment guidelines for pwMS who previously received cladribine.
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Cladribine treatment for highly active multiple sclerosis: Real-world clinical outcomes for years 3 and 4. J Neuroimmunol 2022; 372:577966. [PMID: 36162338 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cladribine is an effective immunomodulatory treatment used for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical outcomes and rates of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in patients with highly-active disease treated with 2 years cumulative dose of cladribine, for years 3 and 4. METHODS We used the Sheba Multiple Sclerosis computerized data registry to retrospectively evaluate year-3 and year-4 clinical outcomes and NEDA-2 rates in highly active RRMS patients who completed the 2-dose 2-year cladribine treatment protocol (3.5 mg/kg cumulative dose over 2 years). The first week of treatment in year 1 was considered as baseline. Data analyses were performed using Python (version 3.0) and SAS® (version 9.4 SAS Institute, Cary, NC). RESULTS Among 128 patients with highly-active MS that received cladribine treatment, 61 patients, 43 females, were studied for year-3 clinical outcomes, and 35 patients, 23 females, also for year-4. At the initiation of cladribine treatment, the mean ± SD age was 39.6 ± 10.74 years (45.9% of the patients were between 18 and 40 years), disease duration 12.7 ± 9.08 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 3.7 ± 1.86 (54% had EDSS score > 3.0), and the annual relapse rate was 1.6 ± 0.9. The annual relapse rate decreased to 0.36 in year-3 and was 0.17 in year-4; 68.9% (42/61) of the patients were relapse-free in year-3, and 82.9% (29/35) were relapse-free in year-4. Disability at year-3 was 3.1 ± 2.07; 83.6% (51/61) of the patients remained neurologically stable (33, 54.1%) or improved (18, 29.5%). In year-4, EDSS was 3.2 ± 1.91, and 85.7% (30/35) of the patients remained stable (20, 57.1%) or improved (10, 28.6%). NEDA-2 was achieved for 59.0% (36/61) of patients in year-3, and for 74.3% (26/35) in year-4 of cladribine treatment. CONCLUSIONS In the real-world cladribine proved to be clinically effective in year-3 and year-4 of treatment in the majority of highly active RRMS patients.
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22
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Schroeter CB, Rolfes L, Gothan KSS, Gruchot J, Herrmann AM, Bock S, Fazio L, Henes A, Narayanan V, Pfeuffer S, Nelke C, Räuber S, Huntemann N, Duarte-Silva E, Dobelmann V, Hundehege P, Wiendl H, Raba K, Küry P, Kremer D, Ruck T, Müntefering T, Budde T, Cerina M, Meuth SG. Cladribine treatment improves cortical network functionality in a mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:270. [DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02588-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Cladribine is a synthetic purine analogue that interferes with DNA synthesis and repair next to disrupting cellular proliferation in actively dividing lymphocytes. The compound is approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Cladribine can cross the blood–brain barrier, suggesting a potential effect on central nervous system (CNS) resident cells. Here, we explored compartment-specific immunosuppressive as well as potential direct neuroprotective effects of oral cladribine treatment in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice.
Methods
In the current study, we compare immune cell frequencies and phenotypes in the periphery and CNS of EAE mice with distinct grey and white matter lesions (combined active and focal EAE) either orally treated with cladribine or vehicle, using flow cytometry. To evaluate potential direct neuroprotective effects, we assessed the integrity of the primary auditory cortex neuronal network by studying neuronal activity and spontaneous synaptic activity with electrophysiological techniques ex vivo.
Results
Oral cladribine treatment significantly attenuated clinical deficits in EAE mice. Ex vivo flow cytometry showed that cladribine administration led to peripheral immune cell depletion in a compartment-specific manner and reduced immune cell infiltration into the CNS. Histological evaluations revealed no significant differences for inflammatory lesion load following cladribine treatment compared to vehicle control. Single cell electrophysiology in acute brain slices was performed and showed an impact of cladribine treatment on intrinsic cellular firing patterns and spontaneous synaptic transmission in neurons of the primary auditory cortex. Here, cladribine administration in vivo partially restored cortical neuronal network function, reducing action potential firing. Both, the effect on immune cells and neuronal activity were transient.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that cladribine exerts a neuroprotective effect after crossing the blood–brain barrier independently of its peripheral immunosuppressant action.
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Balasa R, Maier S, Hutanu A, Voidazan S, Andone S, Oiaga M, Manu D. Cytokine Secretion Dynamics of Isolated PBMC after Cladribine Exposure in RRMS Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810262. [PMID: 36142168 PMCID: PMC9499495 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cladribine (CLD) treats multiple sclerosis (MS) by selectively and transiently depleting B and T cells with a secondary long-term reconstruction of the immune system. This study provides evidence of CLD’s immunomodulatory role in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) harvested from 40 patients with untreated relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) exposed to CLD. We quantified cytokine secretion from PBMCs isolated by density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll−Paque using xMAP technology on a FlexMap 3D analyzer with a highly sensitive multiplex immunoassay kit. The PBMC secretory profile was evaluated with and without CLD exposure. PBMCs isolated from patients with RRMS for ≤12 months had significantly higher IL-4 but significantly lower IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion after CLD exposure. PBMCs isolated from patients with RRMS for >12 months had altered inflammatory ratios toward an anti-inflammatory profile and increased IL-4 but decreased TNF-α secretion after CLD exposure. CLD induced nonsignificant changes in IL-17 secretion in both RRMS groups. Our findings reaffirm CLD’s immunomodulatory effect that induces an anti-inflammatory phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodica Balasa
- Ist Neurology Clinic, Emergency Clinical County Hospital, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
- Department of Neurology, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
- Doctoral School, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Smaranda Maier
- Ist Neurology Clinic, Emergency Clinical County Hospital, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
- Department of Neurology, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Adina Hutanu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
- Laboratory Medicine, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Septimiu Voidazan
- Department of Epidemiology, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Sebastian Andone
- Ist Neurology Clinic, Emergency Clinical County Hospital, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
- Department of Neurology, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
- Doctoral School, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Mirela Oiaga
- Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Clinic, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Doina Manu
- Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, ‘George Emil Palade’ University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
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Moiola L, Riva A, Nicoletti F, Uccelli A, Salvetti M, Battistini L, Furlan R. Vaccination Opportunities in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Cladribine Tablets. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1811-1815. [PMID: 34923946 PMCID: PMC9886810 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666211217160451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID 19 pandemic and mass vaccination campaigns have revealed the situation of the most vulnerable patients. In this work, we focused our attention to patients who have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), particularly in treatment with cladribine tablets, trying to understand if and when it is possible to administer the vaccine successfully. In light of the novel topic, we studied the existing literature and analysed experiences with previous vaccinations, such as influenza and VZV, as well as data from countries where vaccination campaigns had already begun. Overall, we have taken into account the mechanism of action, the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic of cladribine, and the changes in the immune system after its administration, together with the preliminary data about the humoral response to influenza, VZV, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations in cladribine treated patients. In conclusion, data showed that the use of cladribine tablets seems to permit flexibility regarding vaccination timing and we suggest that vaccination in those patients should be safe and effective. The current COVID 19 pandemic has re-ignited the interest in vaccines and vaccination procedures. The importance of including fragile individuals has increased as a result of mass vaccination. Millions of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) around the world are debating whether they can safely receive their vaccine shot with the same efficacy despite receiving immune-modulating or immune-suppressive treatments. In the absence of conclusive empirical data, we will review and discuss the available evidence and the reasonable conclusions for one specific treatment, namely cladribine tablets (Mavenclad).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Moiola
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy/Neurology Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy;
| | - Agostino Riva
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'L.Sacco' University of Milan, Milan, Italy;
| | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- Università Sapienza, Roma, Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo (INM); Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy;
| | - Antonio Uccelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health Unit, University of Genoa; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, Genoa; and Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Italy;
| | - Marco Salvetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo (INM) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy;
| | - Luca Battistini
- Neuroimmunology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy;
| | - Roberto Furlan
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy,Address correspondence to this author at the Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Tel: +390226434867; Fax: +390226434855; E-mail:
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Brod SA. The genealogy, methodology, similarities and differences of immune reconstitution therapies for multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica. Autoimmun Rev 2022; 21:103170. [PMID: 35963569 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Immune reconstitution therapies (IRTs) are a type of short course procedure or pharmaceutical agent within the MS pharmacopeia. They emanate from oncology and induce transient incomplete lympho-ablation with or without myelo-ablation, resulting in potential prolonged immunomodulation. Thus, they provide significant prophylaxis from disease activity without retreatment. Modern IRT for autoimmunity encompasses a heterogeneous group of pulsed lympho- and non-myelo-ablative treatments designed to re-boot the adaptive immune system in a quasi-permanent manner - a re-induction of ontogeny. IRT is the extensive debulking of an auto-aggressive immune system to attempt to reach the Holy Grail of immune tolerance. This incomplete yet significant lympho-ablation induces lymphoproliferation, reduces pathogenic clonal cells, causes thymopoiesis and results in the induction of immune tolerance. Lympho-ablation with immune reconstitution can result in minimal residual autoimmunity. There is a resetting of the immune thermostat - i.e., the immunostat. IRTs have the potential to provide prolonged periods of disease inactivity without retreatment in part through the immunological results of their pulsatile lymphocyte depletion. It is vital to increase our understanding of how IRTs alter a patient's immune response to the antigenic target of the disease so that we can devise newer, more durable and safer forms of such agents. What common features do extant IRTs (i.e., stem cell transplant, alemtuzumab and oral cladribine) have to produce the durable therapeutic response without long term treatment in neuroimmunological diseases such as MS (multiple sclerosis) and NMOSD (neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders)? Can we learn from these critical features to predict what other maneuvers or agents might effect similar clinical results with equal or greater efficacy and safety?
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Affiliation(s)
- Staley A Brod
- Division of MS/Neuro-immunology, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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Basu S, Munafo A, Ben‐Amor A, Roy S, Girard P, Terranova N. Predicting disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis: An explainable machine‐learning approach in the Mavenclad trials. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol 2022; 11:843-853. [PMID: 35521742 PMCID: PMC9286719 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is among the most common autoimmune disabling neurological conditions of young adults and affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. Predicting future disease activity in patients with MS based on their pathophysiology and current treatment is pivotal to orientate future treatment. In this respect, we used machine learning to predict disease activity status in patients with MS and identify the most predictive covariates of this activity. The analysis is conducted on a pooled population of 1935 patients enrolled in three cladribine tablets clinical trials with different outcomes: relapsing–remitting MS (from CLARITY and CLARITY‐Extension trials) and patients experiencing a first demyelinating event (from the ORACLE‐MS trial). We applied gradient‐boosting (from XgBoost library) and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) methods to identify patients' covariates that predict disease activity 3 and 6 months before their clinical observation, including patient baseline characteristics, longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging readouts, and neurological and laboratory measures. The most predictive covariates for early identification of disease activity in patients were found to be treatment duration, higher number of new combined unique active lesion count, higher number of new T1 hypointense black holes, and higher age‐related MS severity score. The outcome of this analysis improves our understanding of the mechanism of onset of disease activity in patients with MS by allowing their early identification in clinical settings and prompting preventive measures, therapeutic interventions, or more frequent patient monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreetama Basu
- Merck Institute for Pharmacometrics, Merck Serono S.A. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Alain Munafo
- Merck Institute for Pharmacometrics, Merck Serono S.A. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) Lausanne Switzerland
| | | | - Sanjeev Roy
- Ares Trading SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) Eysins Switzerland
| | - Pascal Girard
- Merck Institute for Pharmacometrics, Merck Serono S.A. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Nadia Terranova
- Merck Institute for Pharmacometrics, Merck Serono S.A. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) Lausanne Switzerland
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Brill L, Rechtman A, Shifrin A, Rozenberg A, Afanasiev S, Zveik O, Haham N, Levin N, Vaknin-Dembinsky A. Longitudinal humoral response in MS patients treated with cladribine tablets after receiving the second and third doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 63:103863. [PMID: 35667316 PMCID: PMC9088160 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receive immunomodulatory treatments which can influence their ability to maintain vaccine specific serological response overtime. MS patients treated with cladribine tablets developed a positive serology response following two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. However, there is only limited data regarding the effect of cladribine tablets on long-term humoral response after the second and the third booster. METHODS Serology response to SARS-CoV-2 was tested in healthy controls (HCs) and MS patients treated with cladribine tablets 6 and 9-12 months after the second dose, and 1 and 3-6 months following the third booster-dose of the BTN162b2 mRNA vaccine. RESULTS Thirty-five out of 36 MS patients treated with cladribine tablets and 100% (46/46) of HCs had a positive serology response up to 10 months after the second vaccine dose. In addition, all cladribine tablets -treated MS patients (22/22) and HCs (24/24) had a positive robust serology response following the third vaccine with a positive humoral response sustain up to 6 months. One month after the third vaccine dose IgG levels were significantly lower in patients treated with cladribine tablets compared to HCs (15,598+11,313 vs 26,394+11,335, p<0.01). Six-month post second vaccine and 3-6 months post third vaccine there was no difference in IgG levels between the groups (1088.0 ± 1072.0 vs 1153.0 ± 997.1, p = 0.79; 5234+4097 vs 11,198+14,679, p = 0.4). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE MS patients treated with cladribine tablets have sustained positive vaccine specific serology response following the second and third SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livnat Brill
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ariel Rechtman
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alla Shifrin
- Department of Neurology, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ayal Rozenberg
- Department of Neurology, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
| | - Svetlana Afanasiev
- Department of Neurology, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
| | - Omri Zveik
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nitzan Haham
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Neta Levin
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Neurology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Adi Vaknin-Dembinsky
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Israel
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Butzkueven H, Moore N, Aydemir A, Sõnajalg J, Bezemer I, Korhonen P, Sabidó M. The CLARION study design and status update: a long-term, registry-based study evaluating adverse events of special interest in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis newly started on cladribine tablets. Curr Med Res Opin 2022; 38:1167-1176. [PMID: 35357268 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2059977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the design of the CLARION post-approval safety study (EU PAS Register number, EUPAS24484) and provide a status update, including characteristics of patients included up to 1 May 2021. METHODS CLARION aims to further evaluate adverse events of special interest in patients who are newly initiating treatment with cladribine tablets for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The study population consists of two cohorts: patients newly initiating cladribine tablets (cladribine cohort) and patients newly initiating oral fingolimod tablets (comparator fingolimod cohort), with an aim to include 8000 patients (4000 patients per cohort). The study relies on secondary use of data from pre-existing MS registries/data sources (except in Germany, where primary data collection is performed). The study is projected to last 15 years, with an anticipated 5-year inclusion period. Study outcomes are: malignancies; severe infections; tuberculosis; progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; other opportunistic infections; herpes zoster; severe lymphopenia (Grade ≥ 3); and treatment discontinuation. RESULTS As of 1 May 2021, 2393 patients were included in CLARION from seven participating MS registries/data sources (cladribine cohort, n = 1266; fingolimod cohort, n = 1127). The majority of patients are female (cladribine cohort, 72.5%; fingolimod cohort, 68.0%), with mean age at onset of MS of 31.5 years for the cladribine cohort and 30.9 years for the fingolimod cohort. The majority of patients in both cohorts had relapsing MS (cladribine cohort, 92.1%; fingolimod cohort, 93.5%). CONCLUSION By providing further information on adverse events of special interest during long-term follow-up, CLARION will assist neurologists and patients regarding treatment decision-making for management of relapsing MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Butzkueven
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas Moore
- Bordeaux PharmacoEpi (BPE), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Aida Aydemir
- Global Biostatistics, EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc, Billerica, MA, USA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA)
| | | | - Irene Bezemer
- Global Epidemiology and Outcomes Research, IQVIA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Breaching Brain Barriers: B Cell Migration in Multiple Sclerosis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060800. [PMID: 35740925 PMCID: PMC9221446 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) known for the manifestation of demyelinated lesions throughout the CNS, leading to neurodegeneration. To date, not all pathological mechanisms that drive disease progression are known, but the clinical benefits of anti-CD20 therapies have put B cells in the spotlight of MS research. Besides their pathological effects in the periphery in MS, B cells gain access to the CNS where they can contribute to disease pathogenesis. Specifically, B cells accumulate in perivascular infiltrates in the brain parenchyma and the subarachnoid spaces of the meninges, but are virtually absent from the choroid plexus. Hence, the possible migration of B cells over the blood-brain-, blood-meningeal-, and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers appears to be a crucial step to understanding B cell-mediated pathology. To gain more insight into the molecular mechanisms that regulate B cell trafficking into the brain, we here provide a comprehensive overview of the different CNS barriers in health and in MS and how they translate into different routes for B cell migration. In addition, we review the mechanisms of action of diverse therapies that deplete peripheral B cells and/or block B cell migration into the CNS. Importantly, this review shows that studying the different routes of how B cells enter the inflamed CNS should be the next step to understanding this disease.
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Medeiros-Furquim T, Ayoub S, Johnson LJ, Aprico A, Nwoke E, Binder MD, Kilpatrick TJ. Cladribine Treatment for MS Preserves the Differentiative Capacity of Subsequently Generated Monocytes, Whereas Its Administration In Vitro Acutely Influences Monocyte Differentiation but Not Microglial Activation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:678817. [PMID: 35734180 PMCID: PMC9207174 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.678817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, 2CdA) is one of the most effective disease-modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis (MS). Cladribine is a synthetic purine nucleoside analog that induces cell death of lymphocytes and oral cladribine treatment leads to a long-lasting disease stabilization, potentially attributable to immune reconstitution. In addition to its effects on lymphocytes, cladribine has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects on innate immune cells, including dendritic cells and monocytes, which could also contribute to its therapeutic efficacy. However, whether cladribine can modulate human macrophage/microglial activation or monocyte differentiation is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the immunomodulatory effects of cladribine upon monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and microglia. We analyzed the phenotype and differentiation of monocytes from MS patients receiving their first course of oral cladribine both before and three weeks after the start of treatment. Flow cytometric analysis of monocytes from MS patients undergoing cladribine treatment revealed that the number and composition of CD14/CD16 monocyte subsets remained unchanged after treatment. Furthermore, after differentiation with M-CSF, such MDMs from treated MS patients showed no difference in gene expression of the inflammatory markers compared to baseline. We further investigated the direct effects of cladribine in vitro using human adult primary MDMs and microglia. GM-CSF-derived MDMs were more sensitive to cell death than M-CSF-derived MDMs. In addition, MDMs treated with cladribine showed increased expression of costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD40, as well as expression of anti-inflammatory, pro-trophic genes IL10 and MERTK, depending on the differentiation condition. Cladribine treatment in vitro did not modulate the expression of activation markers in human microglia. Our study shows that cladribine treatment in vitro affects the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages by modulating the expression of activation markers, which might occur similarly in tissue after their infiltration in the CNS during MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Medeiros-Furquim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sinan Ayoub
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura J. Johnson
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrea Aprico
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Eze Nwoke
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michele D. Binder
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Trevor J. Kilpatrick
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Trevor J. Kilpatrick,
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Giovannoni G, Mathews J. Cladribine Tablets for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Clinician's Review. Neurol Ther 2022; 11:571-595. [PMID: 35318617 PMCID: PMC8940595 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-022-00339-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by inflammation and demyelination for which there is currently no cure; therefore, the aim of therapy is to reduce the risk of relapse and disability progression. The treatment options for MS have increased greatly in recent years with the development of several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and the advent of immune reconstitution therapy (IRT). IRTs are administered in short-dosing periods to produce long-term effects on the immune system. Treatment with an IRT is based on the 3Rs: reduction, repopulation, and reconstitution of lymphocytes, which leads to restoration of immune effector functions. Cladribine tablets represent a selective, high-efficacy, oral form of IRT for patients with MS that targets lymphocytes and spares innate immune cells. Patients require only two weekly treatment courses, with each course comprising two treatment weeks, in Years 1 and 2; therefore, cladribine tablets are associated with a lower monitoring burden than many other DMTs, while short dosing periods can help to improve adherence. This review provides an overview of IRT and offers the clinician's perspective on the current MS treatment landscape, with a focus on practical advice for the management of patients undergoing treatment with cladribine tablets based on the most recent evidence available, including risks associated with COVID-19 and recommendations for vaccination in patients with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Giovannoni
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark St, Whitechapel, London, E1 2AT, UK.
| | - Joela Mathews
- Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
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Rolfes L, Pfeuffer S, Huntemann N, Schmidt M, Su C, Skuljec J, Aslan D, Hackert J, Kleinschnitz K, Hagenacker T, Pawlitzki M, Ruck T, Kleinschnitz C, Meuth SG, Pul R. Immunological consequences of cladribine treatment in multiple sclerosis: A real-world study. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 64:103931. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Moser T, Ziemssen T, Sellner J. Real-world evidence for cladribine tablets in multiple sclerosis: further insights into efficacy and safety. Wien Med Wochenschr 2022; 172:365-372. [PMID: 35451662 PMCID: PMC9026047 DOI: 10.1007/s10354-022-00931-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Cladribine (CLAD) is a purine nucleoside analog approved in tablet form to treat highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). CLAD tablets are the first oral therapy with an infrequent dosing schedule, administered in two annual treatment courses, each divided into two treatment cycles comprising 4–5 days of treatment. The efficacy and safety of CLAD tablets have been verified in randomized controlled clinical trials. Clinical observational studies are performed in more representative populations and over more extended periods, and thus provide valuable complementary insights. Here, we summarize the available evidence for CLAD tablets from post-marketing trials, including two observational, four long-term extensions, and two comparative studies. The patients in the post-marketing setting differed from the cohort recruited in the pivotal phase III trials regarding demographics and MS-related disability. The limited number of studies with small cohorts corroborate the disease-modifying capacity of oral CLAD and report on a durable benefit after active treatment periods. Skin-related adverse events were common in the studies focusing on safety aspects. In addition, single cases of CLAD-associated autoimmune events have been reported. Lastly, CLAD tablets appear safe regarding COVID-19 concerns, and patients mount a robust humoral immune response to SARS-CoV‑2 vaccination. We conclude that the current real-world evidence for CLAD tablets as immune reconstitution therapy for treatment of MS is based on a small number of studies and a population distinct from the cohorts randomized in the pivotal phase III trials. Further research should advance the understanding of long-term disease control after active treatment periods and the mitigation of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Moser
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johann Sellner
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Landesklinikum Mistelbach-Gänserndorf, Liechtensteinstraße 67, 2130, Mistelbach, Austria.
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Different Susceptibility of T and B Cells to Cladribine Depends On Their Levels of Deoxycytidine Kinase Activity Linked to Activation Status. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2022; 17:195-205. [PMID: 33851318 PMCID: PMC9726780 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-021-09994-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and 5' deoxynucleotidase (NT5C2) are involved in metabolism of cladribine (2CdA), the immunomodulatory drug for multiple sclerosis; by mediating phosphorylation (activation) or phosphorolysis (deactivation) of 2CdA, respectively, these enzymes promote or prevent its accumulation in the cell, which leads to cell death. In particular, lymphocytes which present with a high intracellular dCK/NT5C2 ratio are more sensitive to 2CdA than other immune cells. We aim at determining if the expression of these enzymes and/or their activity differ in specific progenitor and mature immune cells and are influenced by cellular activation and/or exposure to 2CdA. Flow cytometry analysis showed no difference in dCK/NT5C2 ratio in progenitor and mature immune cells. 2CdA induced apoptosis in stimulated T and B cells and unstimulated B cells. dCK expression was enhanced by 2CdA at mRNA and protein levels in activated T cells and mRNA level in activated B cells. dCK activity, measured through an in-house luminescence release enzyme assay was higher in activated T and B cells, and such an increase was abrogated in activated B cells, but not T cells, upon exposure to 2CdA. These results reveal an important relationship between dCK activity and the effect of 2CdA on B and T cells, according to their activation status. Further study is warranted to evaluate whether dCK activity could, in the future, be a suitable predictive biomarker of lymphocyte response to 2CdA.
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Brill L, Rechtman A, Zveik O, Haham N, Levin N, Shifrin A, Rozenberg A, Vaknin-Dembinsky A. Effect of cladribine on COVID-19 serology responses following two doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in patients with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 57:103343. [PMID: 35158452 PMCID: PMC8539216 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are treated with immunomodulatory treatments that can influence their ability to develop a protective antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Vaccine efficacy is important for treatment decision and for patients' reassurance. The main objective is to assess antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in MS patients treated with cladribine. METHODS Serology response was tested in 97 participants, 67 MS patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs), using two independent methods, 2-3 weeks following the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. RESULTS HCs (n = 30) and MS patients treated with cladribine (n = 32) had 100% positive serology response against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein following the second vaccine dose (mean S1/S2-IgG and RBD-IgG:284.5 ± 104.9, 13,041±9411 AU/mL and 226.3 ± 121.4, 10,554±11,405 AU/mL respectively). Comparable findings were observed for untreated MS patients, and interferon beta-1a-treated MS patients (mean S1/S2-IgG: 282.1 ± 100.1, 276.9 ± 94.31 AU/mL respectively). No correlation was found between lymphocyte counts, treatment duration, or time between cladribine dose and vaccination, and serology response or antibody titers. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE Cladribine treated MS patients are able to produce antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is reassuring and important for both patients and physicians and will allow to develop consensus guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livnat Brill
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ariel Rechtman
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Omri Zveik
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nitzan Haham
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Netta Levin
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Neurology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alla Shifrin
- Department of Neurology, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ayal Rozenberg
- Department of Neurology, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
| | - Adi Vaknin-Dembinsky
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and the Agnes-Ginges Center for Neurogenetics, Hadassah- Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Dobreanu M, Manu DR, Mănescu IB, Gabor MR, Huţanu A, Bărcuţean L, Bălaşa R. Treatment With Cladribine Selects IFNγ+IL17+ T Cells in RRMS Patients - An In Vitro Study. Front Immunol 2022; 12:743010. [PMID: 34970256 PMCID: PMC8712887 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.743010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable autoimmune disease mediated by a heterogeneous T cell population (CD3+CD161+CXCR3−CCR6+IFNγ−IL17+, CD3+CXCR3+CCR6+IFNγ+IL17+, and CD3+CXCR3+IFNγ+IL17− phenotypes) that infiltrates the central nervous system, eliciting local inflammation, demyelination and neurodegeneration. Cladribine is a lymphocyte-depleting deoxyadenosine analogue recently introduced for MS therapy as a Disease Modifying Drug (DMD). Our aim was to establish a method for the early identification and prediction of cladribine responsiveness among MS patients. Methods An experimental model was designed to study the cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effect of cladribine. T cell subsets of naïve relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients were analyzed ex vivo and in vitro comparatively to healthy controls (HC). Surviving cells were stimulated with rh-interleukin-2 for up to 14days. Cell proliferation and immunophenotype changes were analyzed after maximal (phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin/monensin) and physiological T-cell receptor (CD3/CD28) activation, using multiparametric flow cytometry and xMAP technology. Results Ex vivo CD161+Th17 cells were increased in RRMS patients. Ex vivo to in vitro phenotype shifts included: decreased CD3+CCR6+ and CD3+CD161+ in all subjects and increased CD3+CXCR3+ in RRMS patients only; Th17.1 showed increased proliferation vs Th17 in all subjects; CD3+IL17+ and CD3+IFNγ+IL17+ continued to proliferate till day 14, CD3+IFNγ+ only till day 7. Regarding cladribine exposure: RRMS CD3+ cells were more resistant compared to HC; treated CD3+ cells proliferated continuously for up to 14 days, while untreated cells only up to 7 days; both HC/RRMS CD3+CXCR3+ populations increased from baseline till day 14; in RRMS patients vs HC, IL17 secretion from cladribine-treated cells increased significantly, in line with the observed proliferation of CD3+IL17+ and CD3+IFNγ+IL17+ cells; in both HC/RRMS, cladribine led to a significant increase in CD3+IFNγ+ cells at day 7 only, having no further effect at day14. IFNγ and IL17 secreted in culture media decreased significantly from ex vivo to in vitro. Conclusions CD3+ subtypes showed different responsiveness due to selectivity of cladribine action, in most patients leading to in vitro survival/proliferation of lymphocyte subsets known as pathogenic in MS. This in vitro experimental model is a promising tool for the prediction of individual responsiveness of MS patients to cladribine and other DMDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minodora Dobreanu
- Department of Immunology, Centre for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania.,Clinical Laboratory, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureș, Romania.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Doina Ramona Manu
- Department of Immunology, Centre for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Ion Bogdan Mănescu
- Clinical Laboratory, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureș, Romania.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Manuela Rozalia Gabor
- Department of Management and Economy, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Adina Huţanu
- Clinical Laboratory, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureș, Romania.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Laura Bărcuţean
- Neurology 1 Clinic, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureș, Romania.,Department of Neurology, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Rodica Bălaşa
- Neurology 1 Clinic, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureș, Romania.,Department of Neurology, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mureș, Romania
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Garbo R, Cutuli D, Lorenzut S, Gigli GL, Bagatto D, Valente M. Opportunities and Obstacles Associated With Sequential Immune Reconstitution Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report. Front Neurol 2021; 12:664596. [PMID: 34956035 PMCID: PMC8692884 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.664596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cladribine is an effective disease-modifying treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis that acts as an immune reconstitution therapy and is administered in a pulsed manner. Despite its efficacy, severe disease reactivation early after treatment represents a serious clinical problem, and clear evidence to guide the management of such a situation is lacking. Here, we describe the case of a patient experiencing considerable disease activity during the 1st year after the initiation of cladribine treatment. The patient was switched to alemtuzumab and, therefore, received double immune reconstitution therapy. Data regarding this approach are lacking, and real-world observations may be of interest. Despite achieving good control of disease activity, we observed several serious infectious complications. Our results suggest that sequential immune reconstitution therapies may be effective; however, at the price of higher susceptibility to infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Garbo
- Clinical Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Daniela Cutuli
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Simone Lorenzut
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gigli
- Clinical Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.,Department of Medical Area (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Daniele Bagatto
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Valente
- Clinical Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.,Department of Medical Area (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Cladribine as a Potential Object of Nucleoside Transporter-Based Drug Interactions. Clin Pharmacokinet 2021; 61:167-187. [PMID: 34894346 PMCID: PMC8813788 DOI: 10.1007/s40262-021-01089-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cladribine is a nucleoside analog that is phosphorylated in its target cells (B and T-lymphocytes) to its active triphosphate form (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine triphosphate). Cladribine tablets 10 mg (Mavenclad®), administered for up to 10 days per year in 2 consecutive years (3.5-mg/kg cumulative dose over 2 years), are used to treat patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Cladribine has been shown to be a substrate of various nucleoside transporters (NTs). Intestinal absorption and distribution of cladribine throughout the body appear to be essentially mediated by equilibrative NTs (ENTs) and concentrative NTs (CNTs), specifically by ENT1, ENT2, ENT4, CNT2 (low affinity), and CNT3. Other efficient transporters of cladribine are the ABC efflux transporters, specifically breast cancer resistance protein, which likely modulates the oral absorption and renal excretion of cladribine. A key transporter for the intracellular uptake of cladribine into B and T-lymphocytes is ENT1 with ancillary contributions of ENT2 and CNT2. Transporter-based drug interactions affecting absorption and target cellular uptake of a prodrug such as cladribine are likely to reduce systemic bioavailability and target cell exposure, thereby possibly hampering clinical efficacy. In order to manage optimized therapy, i.e., to ensure uncompromised target cell uptake to preserve the full therapeutic potential of cladribine, it is important that clinicians are aware of the existence of NT-inhibiting medicinal products, various lifestyle drugs, and food components. This article reviews the existing knowledge on inhibitors of NT, which may alter cladribine absorption, distribution, and uptake into target cells, thereby summarizing the existing knowledge on optimized methods of administration and concomitant drugs that should be avoided during cladribine treatment.
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Immunomodulatory Effects Associated with Cladribine Treatment. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123488. [PMID: 34943995 PMCID: PMC8700070 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cladribine is a synthetic deoxyadenosine analogue with demonstrated efficacy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The main mechanism of action described for cladribine is the induction of a cytotoxic effect on lymphocytes, leading to a long-term depletion of peripheral T and B cells. Besides lymphocyte toxicity, the mode of action may include immunomodulatory mechanisms affecting other cells of the immune system. In order to induce its beneficial effects, cladribine is phosphorylated inside the cell by deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) to its active form. However, the mechanism of action of cladribine may also include immunomodulatory pathways independent of DCK activation. This in vitro study was designed to explore the impact of cladribine on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) subsets, and to assess whether the immunomodulatory mechanisms induced by cladribine depend on the activation of the molecule. To this end, we obtained PBMCs from healthy donors and MS patients and performed proliferation, apoptosis and activation assays with clinically relevant concentrations of cladribine in DCK-dependent and -independent conditions. We also evaluated the effect of cladribine on myeloid lineage-derived cells, monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). Cladribine decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of lymphocyte subsets after prodrug activation via DCK. In contrast, cladribine induced a decrease in immune cell activation through both DCK-dependent and -independent pathways (not requiring prodrug activation). Regarding monocytes and DCs, cladribine induced cytotoxicity and impaired the activation of classical monocytes, but had no effect on DC maturation. Taken together, these data indicate that cladribine, in addition to its cytotoxic function, can mediate immunomodulation in different immune cell populations, by regulating their proliferation, maturation and activation.
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Grothe C, Steffen F, Bittner S. Humoral immune response and lymphocyte levels after complete vaccination against COVID-19 in a cohort of multiple sclerosis patients treated with cladribine tablets. J Cent Nerv Syst Dis 2021; 13:11795735211060118. [PMID: 34880703 PMCID: PMC8647228 DOI: 10.1177/11795735211060118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving immunomodulatory drugs were excluded from clinical trials on COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, data regarding the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines to induce humoral immunity in MS patients treated with B- and T-cell depleting agents is urgently warranted. Cladribine tablets are a high-efficacy disease-modifying treatment that exerts its therapeutic effect via sustained but transient lymphocyte depletion. AIM We report humoral responses in a German cohort of MS patients treated with cladribine tablets. METHODS This retrospective analysis included patients ≥18 years who were treated with cladribine tablets for relapsing MS in the first or second year and were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Two weeks after the second vaccination at the earliest, blood samples were obtained for the assessment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, lymphocyte counts, B-cells, CD4+ T-cells, and CD8+ T-cells. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were quantified with the LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG assay. Positivity was defined at a cutoff value of 33.8 BAU/mL. RESULTS In total, 38 patients (73.7% female, aged 23-66 years) were included in the analysis. Ten patients (26.3%) were treatment-naïve before initiating treatment with cladribine tablets. Most patients (84.2%) received mRNA vaccines. The time between the last dose of cladribine tablets and vaccination ranged between 2 and 96 weeks. Six patients (15.8%) were vaccinated within 4 weeks of their last cladribine dose. All patients achieved positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels. Humoral immune response was independent of age, time of vaccination in relation to the last cladribine dose, lymphocyte counts as well as B- and T-cell counts. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with cladribine tablets did not impair humoral response to COVID-19 vaccination. Time since last cladribine dose, age, prior therapy, lymphocyte count as well as B- and T-cell counts had no effect on seropositivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Falk Steffen
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Bittner
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
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Inshasi JS, Alfahad S, Alsaadi T, Hassan A, Zein T, Mifsud VA, Nouri SI, Shakra M, Shatila AO, Szolics M, Thakre M, Kumar A, Boshra A. Position of Cladribine Tablets in the Management of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: An Expert Narrative Review From the United Arab Emirates. Neurol Ther 2021; 10:435-454. [PMID: 33891277 PMCID: PMC8062252 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-021-00243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of immune reconstitution therapies (IRT) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is associated with a prolonged period of freedom from relapses in the absence of continuously applied therapy. Cladribine tablets is a disease-modifying treatment (DMT) indicated for highly active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) as defined by clinical or imaging features. Treatment with cladribine tablets is effective and well tolerated in patients with active MS disease and have a low burden of monitoring during and following treatment. In this article, an expert group of specialist neurologists involved in the care of patients with MS in the United Arab Emirates provides their consensus recommendations for the practical use of cladribine tablets according to the presenting phenotype of patients with RRMS. The IRT approach may be especially useful for patients with highly active MS insufficiently responsive to treatment with a first-line DMT, those who are likely to adhere poorly to a continuous therapeutic regimen, treatment-naïve patients with high disease activity at first presentation, or patients planning a family who are prepared to wait until at least 6 months after the end of treatment. Information available to date does not suggest an adverse interaction between cladribine tablets and COVID-19 infection. Data are unavailable at this time regarding the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in patients treated with cladribine tablets. Robust immunological responses to COVID-19 infection or to other vaccines have been observed in patients receiving this treatment, and treatment with cladribine tablets per se should not represent a barrier to this vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihad S Inshasi
- Neurology Department, Rashid Hospital and Dubai Medical College, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), PO Box 4545, Dubai, UAE.
| | - Sarmed Alfahad
- Neurology Department, Neurospinal Hospital, Baghdad Medical College, Dubai, UAE
| | - Taoufik Alsaadi
- Neurology Department, American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Dubai, UAE
| | - Ali Hassan
- Neurology Medical Clinic, Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Tayseer Zein
- Neurology Department, AlQassami Hospital, Sharjah, UAE
| | | | | | - Mustafa Shakra
- Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | | | - Miklos Szolics
- Neurology Medical Clinic, Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Mona Thakre
- Neurology Department, Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai, UAE
| | - Ajit Kumar
- Neurology Department, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Nahda, Dubai, UAE
| | - Amir Boshra
- Merck Serono Middle East FZ Ltd, Dubai, UAE
- Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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Spiezia AL, Cerbone V, Molinari EA, Capasso N, Lanzillo R, Carotenuto A, Petracca M, Novarella F, Covelli B, Scalia G, Brescia Morra V, Moccia M. Changes in lymphocytes, neutrophils and immunoglobulins in year-1 cladribine treatment in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2021; 57:103431. [PMID: 34871857 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Luca Spiezia
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Nicola Capasso
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Lanzillo
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Carotenuto
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Petracca
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Novarella
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Bianca Covelli
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giulia Scalia
- Centre for Advanced Biotechnology (CEINGE), Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Brescia Morra
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Marcello Moccia
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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Moser T, Hoepner L, Schwenker K, Seiberl M, Feige J, Akgün K, Haschke-Becher E, Ziemssen T, Sellner J. Cladribine Alters Immune Cell Surface Molecules for Adhesion and Costimulation: Further Insights to the Mode of Action in Multiple Sclerosis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113116. [PMID: 34831335 PMCID: PMC8618022 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cladribine (CLAD) is a deoxyadenosine analogue prodrug which is given in multiple sclerosis (MS) as two short oral treatment courses 12 months apart. Reconstitution of adaptive immune function following selective immune cell depletion is the presumed mode of action. In this exploratory study, we investigated the impact of CLAD tablets on immune cell surface molecules for adhesion (CAMs) and costimulation (CoSs) in people with MS (pwMS). We studied 18 pwMS who started treatment with CLAD and 10 healthy controls (HCs). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected at baseline and every 3 months throughout a 24-month period. We analysed ICAM-1, LFA-1, CD28, HLADR, CD154, CD44, VLA-4 (CD49d/CD29), PSGL-1 and PD-1 with regard to their expression on B and T cells (T helper (Th) and cytotoxic T cells (cT)) and surface density (mean fluorescence intensity, MFI) by flow cytometry. The targeted analysis of CAM and CoS on the surface of immune cells in pwMS revealed a higher percentage of ICAM-1 (B cells, Th, cT), LFA-1 (B cells, cT), HLADR (B cells, cT), CD28 (cT) and CD154 (Th). In pwMS, we found lower frequencies of Th and cT cells expressing PSGL-1 and B cells for the inhibitory signal PD-1, whereas the surface expression of LFA-1 on cT and of HLADR on B cells was denser. Twenty-four months after the first CLAD cycle, the frequencies of B cells expressing CD44, CD29 and CD49d were lower compared with the baseline, together with decreased densities of ICAM-1, CD44 and HLADR. The rate of CD154 expressing Th cells dropped at 12 months. For cT, no changes were seen for frequency or density. Immune reconstitution by oral CLAD was associated with modification of the pro-migratory and -inflammatory surface patterns of CAMs and CoSs in immune cell subsets. This observation pertains primarily to B cells, which are key cells underlying MS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Moser
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (T.M.); (K.S.); (M.S.); (J.F.)
- Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.H.); (K.A.); (T.Z.)
| | - Lena Hoepner
- Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.H.); (K.A.); (T.Z.)
| | - Kerstin Schwenker
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (T.M.); (K.S.); (M.S.); (J.F.)
| | - Michael Seiberl
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (T.M.); (K.S.); (M.S.); (J.F.)
| | - Julia Feige
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (T.M.); (K.S.); (M.S.); (J.F.)
| | - Katja Akgün
- Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.H.); (K.A.); (T.Z.)
| | | | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.H.); (K.A.); (T.Z.)
| | - Johann Sellner
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (T.M.); (K.S.); (M.S.); (J.F.)
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, 80333 München, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Landesklinikum Mistelbach-Gänserndorf, 2130 Mistelbach, Austria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-2572-9004-12850; Fax: +43-2572-9004-49281
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Centonze D, Rocca MA, Gasperini C, Kappos L, Hartung HP, Magyari M, Oreja-Guevara C, Trojano M, Wiendl H, Filippi M. Disease-modifying therapies and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in multiple sclerosis: an expert consensus. J Neurol 2021; 268:3961-3968. [PMID: 33844056 PMCID: PMC8038920 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10545-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) appeared in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has quickly become a global pandemic. The disease is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type-2 (SARS-CoV-2), an RNA beta coronavirus phylogenetically similar to SARS coronavirus. To date, more than 132 million cases of COVID19 have been recorded in the world, of which over 2.8 million were fatal ( https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ). A huge vaccination campaign has started around the world since the end of 2020. The availability of vaccines has raised some concerns among neurologists regarding the safety and efficacy of vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) taking immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Centonze
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
- Unit of Neurology, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Maria A Rocca
- MS Center and Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Gasperini
- Department of Neurosciences, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Ludwig Kappos
- MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), Departments of Medicine, Clinical Research and Biomedicine and Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Melinda Magyari
- Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Celia Oreja-Guevara
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Trojano
- Neurology and Neurophysiopathology Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Heinz Wiendl
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Massimo Filippi
- MS Center and Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
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Moser T, O’Sullivan C, Puttinger C, Feige J, Pilz G, Haschke-Becher E, Cadamuro J, Oberkofler H, Hitzl W, Harrer A, Kraus J, Trinka E, Wipfler P. Pre-Existing Humoral Immunological Memory Is Retained in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Receiving Cladribine Therapy. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111584. [PMID: 34829815 PMCID: PMC8615381 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cladribine (CLAD) is a lymphodepleting agent approved for active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The impact of CLAD on the adaptive humoral immune system has not sufficiently been studied. This study aimed to assess the influence of CLAD treatment on specific antibody titers to common pathogens. We included 18 MS patients treated with CLAD. Serum IgG antibody levels to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and varicella zoster virus (VZV), as well as diphtheria and tetanus toxins, were measured prior to the initiation of treatment and at 12 and 24 months after first CLAD administration. Moreover, specimens were longitudinally analyzed regarding absolute blood concentrations of IgG and main lymphocyte subsets. No reduction in antibody levels against measles, mumps, rubella, VZV, hepatitis B, diphtheria toxin and tetanus toxin associated with CLAD treatment was observed. Loss of seroprotection occurred in <1%. We found no significant impact of CLAD on absolute serum IgG levels. Absolute lymphocyte counts were significantly reduced at the end of each treatment year (p < 0.00001 and p < 0.000001). This study suggests that CLAD does not interfere with the pre-existing humoral immunologic memory in terms of pathogen-specific antibody titers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Moser
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-57255-30300
| | - Ciara O’Sullivan
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
| | - Christian Puttinger
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
| | - Julia Feige
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
| | - Georg Pilz
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
| | - Elisabeth Haschke-Becher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.H.-B.); (J.C.); (H.O.); (J.K.)
| | - Janne Cadamuro
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.H.-B.); (J.C.); (H.O.); (J.K.)
| | - Hannes Oberkofler
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.H.-B.); (J.C.); (H.O.); (J.K.)
| | - Wolfgang Hitzl
- Research Management (RM): Team Biostatistics and Publikation of Clincial Studies, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Research Program Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Andrea Harrer
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Jörg Kraus
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (E.H.-B.); (J.C.); (H.O.); (J.K.)
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Eugen Trinka
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
- Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Peter Wipfler
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (C.P.); (J.F.); (G.P.); (A.H.); (E.T.); (P.W.)
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Adamec I, Jovanović I, Krbot Skorić M, Habek M. Double immune reconstitution therapy: Cladribine after alemtuzumab in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2021; 29:901-904. [PMID: 34676950 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Alemtuzumab, a monoclonal anti-CD52 antibody, and cladribine, a purine nucleoside analogue, are used for the treatment of highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Both are administered as two short yearly courses but possess the ability to induce long-term remission, labeling them as immune reconstitution therapies. Although disease activity after alemtuzumab administration is rare, there are a small number of people with MS who will experience disease activity despite repeated alemtuzumab treatment. METHODS We report on six patients with MS who experienced disease activity after alemtuzumab and were subsequently treated with cladribine and followed up for up to 2 years. RESULTS None of the patients experienced relapses during the follow-up period and in all patients Expanded Disability Status Scale values remained unchanged. All patients had lymphopenia at one time point. In patients 1 and 2, at the nadir, the lymphopenia was grade 1, in patient 3 it was grade 2 and in patients 5 and 6 it was grade 3. No infections or malignancies were recorded during the follow-up. CONCLUSION This report provides a framework for treating people with MS with sequential immune reconstitution therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Adamec
- Department of Neurology, Referral Center for Autonomic Nervous System Disorders, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Jovanović
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Magdalena Krbot Skorić
- Department of Neurology, Referral Center for Autonomic Nervous System Disorders, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mario Habek
- Department of Neurology, Referral Center for Autonomic Nervous System Disorders, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Maltby VE, Lea RA, Monif M, Fabis-Pedrini MJ, Buzzard K, Kalincik T, Kermode AG, Taylor B, Hodgkinson S, McCombe P, Butzkueven H, Barnett M, Lechner-Scott J. Efficacy of Cladribine Tablets as a Treatment for People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol for the CLOBAS Study (Cladribine, a Multicenter, Long-term Efficacy and Biomarker Australian Study). JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e24969. [PMID: 34665152 PMCID: PMC8564661 DOI: 10.2196/24969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cladribine tablets (marketed as Mavenclad) are a new oral therapy, which has recently been listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme in Australia for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The current dosing schedule is for 2 courses given a year apart, which has been shown to be effective for treatment of MS for up to 4 years in 75% of patients (based on annualized relapse rate). However, the reinitiation of therapy after year 4 has not been studied. Objective This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cladribine tablets over a 6-year period, according to no evidence of disease activity 3. Methods This will be a multicenter, 6-year, phase IV, low interventional, observational study that incorporates clinical, hematological, biochemical, epigenetic, radiological and cognitive biomarkers of disease. Participants considered for treatment with cladribine as part of their routine clinical care will be consented to take part in the study. They will be monitored at regular intervals during the initial course of medication administration in years 1 and 2. After year 3, patients will have the option of redosing, if clinically indicated, or to switch to another disease-modifying therapy. Throughout the duration of the study, we will assess blood-based biomarkers including lymphocyte subsets, serum neurofilament light chain, DNA methylation, and RNA analysis as well as magnetic resonance imaging findings (brain volume and/or lesion load) and cognitive performance. Results This study has been approved by the Hunter New England Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee. Recruitment began in March of 2019 and was completed by June 2021. Conclusions This will be the first long-term efficacy trial of cladribine, which offers reinitiation of therapy in the 3rd year, based on disease activity, after the initial 2 courses. We expect that this study will indicate whether any of the assessed biomarkers can be used to predict treatment efficacy or the need for future reinitiation of cladribine in people with MS. Trial Registration This study is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619000257167) with Universal Trial Number (U1111-1228-2165). International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/24969
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki E Maltby
- Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,School for Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Rodney A Lea
- School for Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovations, Genomics Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Mastura Monif
- Department of Neurosciences, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Melbourne Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Marzena J Fabis-Pedrini
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Katherine Buzzard
- Department of Neurosciences, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Melbourne Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tomas Kalincik
- Department of Neurology, Melbourne Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Clinical Outcomes Research (CORe) Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Allan G Kermode
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - Bruce Taylor
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Suzanne Hodgkinson
- Department of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,Immune Tolerance Laboratory, Ingham Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Pamela McCombe
- Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Helmut Butzkueven
- Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Clinical Outcomes Research (CORe) Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael Barnett
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jeannette Lechner-Scott
- Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,School for Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
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Koldej RM, Prabahran A, Tan CW, Ng AP, Davis MJ, Ritchie DS. Dissection of the bone marrow microenvironment in hairy cell leukaemia identifies prognostic tumour and immune related biomarkers. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19056. [PMID: 34561502 PMCID: PMC8463612 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98536-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare CD20+ B cell malignancy characterised by rare "hairy" B cells and extensive bone marrow (BM) infiltration. Frontline treatment with the purine analogue cladribine (CDA) results in a highly variable response duration. We hypothesised that analysis of the BM tumour microenvironment would identify prognostic biomarkers of response to CDA. HCL BM immunology pre and post CDA treatment and healthy controls were analysed using Digital Spatial Profiling to assess the expression of 57 proteins using an immunology panel. A bioinformatics pipeline was developed to accommodate the more complex experimental design of a spatially resolved study. Treatment with CDA was associated with the reduction in expression of HCL tumour markers (CD20, CD11c) and increased expression of myeloid markers (CD14, CD68, CD66b, ARG1). Expression of HLA-DR, STING, CTLA4, VISTA, OX40L were dysregulated pre- and post-CDA. Duration of response to treatment was associated with greater reduction in tumour burden and infiltration by CD8 T cells into the BM post-CDA. This is the first study to provide a high multiplex analysis of HCL BM microenvironment demonstrating significant immune dysregulation and identify biomarkers of response to CDA. With validation in future studies, prospective application of these biomarkers could allow early identification and increased monitoring in patients at increased relapse risk post CDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Koldej
- ACRF Translational Research Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Ashvind Prabahran
- ACRF Translational Research Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chin Wee Tan
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ashley P Ng
- Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Melissa J Davis
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David S Ritchie
- ACRF Translational Research Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
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49
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Long-Term Disease Stability Assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale in Patients Treated with Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Post Hoc Analysis of the CLARITY and CLARITY Extension Studies. Adv Ther 2021; 38:4975-4985. [PMID: 34370275 PMCID: PMC8408069 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-021-01865-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the Cladribine Tablets Treating Multiple Sclerosis Orally (CLARITY) study, cladribine tablets significantly reduced relapse rates and improved findings on magnetic resonance imaging versus placebo in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. In the CLARITY Extension study, treatment with cladribine tablets for 2 years followed by placebo for 2 years produced similar clinical benefits to 4 years of cladribine tablets. The objective of this exploratory post hoc analysis was to evaluate long-term disease stability (assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score) after treatment with cladribine tablets. METHODS Patients enrolled into CLARITY Extension who were previously randomized to cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg in the CLARITY study were included in this post hoc analysis. Two treatment groups were investigated-patients randomized to cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg in CLARITY and thereafter randomized to placebo in CLARITY Extension (the CP3.5 group) or to cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg in CLARITY Extension (the CC7 group). In each treatment group, EDSS scores at 6-month intervals, EDSS score improvement/worsening each year, and time to 3- and 6-month confirmed EDSS progression were assessed from CLARITY baseline over 5 years of follow-up (including a variable bridging interval between studies). All analyses are descriptive, and no statistical comparisons were performed for between-treatment group differences. RESULTS The median (95% confidence interval [CI]) EDSS score for patients in the CP3.5 group at 5 years was 2.5 (2.0-3.5) compared with 3.0 (2.5-3.5) at baseline. In the CC7 group, median EDSS score (95% CI) at 5 years was 2.0 (2.0-3.0) compared with 2.5 (2.5-3.0) at baseline. During year 5 for the CP3.5 group, and based on changes in minimum score each year, EDSS score stability was observed in 53.9% of patients, improvement in 21.3%, and worsening in 24.7%. In the CC7 group, EDSS score remained stable in 66.1%, improved in 18.1%, and worsened in 15.8% of patients. Over 70% of patients in both treatment groups did not show 3- or 6-month confirmed EDSS progression at 5 years from CLARITY baseline. CONCLUSIONS These findings confirm long-term beneficial effects on disability afforded by either the recommended dose of cladribine tablets over 4 years (cumulative dose, 3.5 mg/kg) or a higher cumulative dose. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00213135 (CLARITY); NCT00641537 (CLARITY Extension).
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50
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Rammohan K, Coyle PK, Sylvester E, Galazka A, Dangond F, Grosso M, Leist TP. The Development of Cladribine Tablets for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review. Drugs 2021; 80:1901-1928. [PMID: 33247831 PMCID: PMC7708385 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-020-01422-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cladribine is a purine nucleoside analog initially developed in the 1970s as a treatment for various blood cancers. Due to the molecule’s ability to preferentially reduce T and B lymphocytes, it has been developed into an oral formulation for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The unique proposed mechanism of action of cladribine allows for the therapy to be delivered orally over two treatment-week cycles per year, one cycle at the beginning of the first month and one cycle at the beginning of the second month of years 1 and 2, with the potential for no further cladribine treatment required in years 3 and 4. This review summarizes the clinical development program for cladribine tablets in patients with MS, including the efficacy endpoints and results from the 2-year phase III CLARITY study in patients with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), the 2-year CLARITY EXTENSION study, and the phase III ORACLE-MS study in patients with a first clinical demyelinating event at risk for developing MS. Efficacy results from the phase II ONWARD study, in which cladribine tablets were administered as an add-on to interferon-β therapy in patients with RRMS, are also summarized. A review of all safety data, including lymphopenia, infections, and malignancies, is provided based on data from all trials in patients with MS, including the initial parenteral formulation studies. Based on these data, cladribine tablets administered at 3.5 mg/kg over 2 years have been approved across the globe for various forms of relapsing MS. The development of cladribine tablets for the treatment of multiple sclerosis: a comprehensive review (MP4 279143 kb)
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Affiliation(s)
- Kottil Rammohan
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Patricia K Coyle
- Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Fernando Dangond
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., Billerica, MA, USA, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Megan Grosso
- EMD Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA, USA, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Thomas P Leist
- Comprehensive MS Center, Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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