MSVirtual2020: Novartis and Roche, two Swiss giants, presents robust trial results of their assets

Novartis announced that it would present 48 abstracts, including data of Kesimpta, Mayzent, and Gilenya.

Novartis announced the results of ASCLEPIOS trials, demonstrating the superiority of Kesimpta (ofatumumab) versus teriflunomide in treatment naïve patients.

Kesimpta reduced the annualized relapse rate by 50% compared to teriflunomide. After the treatment with Kesimpta, gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 lesions were reduced by 95.4% and new or enlarging T2 lesions by 82.0%

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The company presented EXCHANGE interim analysis, demonstrating the safety and tolerability profile when the patients were switched from oral to injectable disease-modifying therapy.

Long-term data of EXPAND trial demonstrated the sustained benefits on disability, cognitive processing speed, and relapse outcomes.

Novartis announced it would present additional safety data and assessing the immune phenotype biomarker of Gilenya in the conference.

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Roche has presented the new data of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) from an open-label Phase IIIb CASTING study.

75% of the RRMS patients experienced no evidence of disease activity after being treated with Ocrevus for two years. Patients who had a suboptimal response with up to two DMTs for a period of six months were included in the trial.

In the German CONFIDENCE study, a high degree of adherence to the treatment was observed.

Ocrevus is the only drug indicated for relapsing MS and primary progressive MS.

Fenebrutinib is an oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor indicated for relapsing MS and primary progressive MS. It inhibits both B-cells and myeloid-cell activation.

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Biogen has presented a five-week EVOLVE-MS-2 study, demonstrating the improvement in patient-assessed gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability of Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) compared to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate).

Patients on Vumerity experienced less gastrointestinal irritation and less use of the drugs to treat gastrointestinal symptoms.

Biogen has presented the real-world evidence studies of Tysabri (natalizumab). RWE studies demonstrated that no significant differences in the rate of new T2 lesions, T2 lesion volumes, and brain atrophy were observed compared to approved every-four-week dosing.

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