Gilenya in Japanese MS


Kira JI, Itoyama Y, Kikuchi S, Hao Q, Kurosawa T, Nagato K, Tsumiyama I, von Rosenstiel P, Zhang-Auberson L, Saida T. Fingolimod (FTY720) therapy in Japanese patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis over 12months: results of a phase 2 observational extension.BMC Neurol. 2014 Jan;14(1):21. [Epub ahead of print]

BACKGROUND: A 6-month phase 2 study of fingolimod demonstrated efficacy and safety in Japanese patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we report a 6-month observational extension that evaluated efficacy and safety in patients who received fingolimod continuously for 12 months or who switched from placebo to fingolimod.
METHODS: Of 147 patients who completed the 6-month core study, 143 entered the extension. Those originally randomized to placebo were re-randomized to fingolimod 1.25 mg or 0.5 mg. During the extension, all patients were switched to open-label fingolimod 0.5 mg.
RESULTS:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and relapse outcomes were maintained or improved in patients treated with fingolimod for 12 months versus those treated for 6 months. No new safety events were reported over 12 months of treatment. Infections occurred in similar proportions of continuously treated and switched patients, while cardiac and liver adverse events occurred in fewer continuously treated than switched patients. Four patients were aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive, three of whom showed rapid disease exacerbations within 10 days of fingolimod initiation.
CONCLUSION: Continuous fingolimod treatment for up to 12 months was associated with maintained or improved efficacy and a manageable safety profile, consistent with that previously seen. Results in a small number of patients suggest lack of benefit in AQP4 antibody-positive patients. Meaningful statistical interpretation was limited by the small sample size in each treatment group, owing to the number of patients who completed the core study.


 As we have seen before Japanese people are like other people and Gilenya has activity, but we know this already based on other trials.

The worsening of neuromyeltis optica disease following fingolimod has been found in a few other cases reported previously. This further indicates the difference from MS

Labels: