Teriflunomide in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: outcomes by age and pre-treatment status

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Teriflunomide is an immunomodulatory drug used for treating relapsing forms of MS.
• Understanding teriflunomide's effectiveness and safety in diverse patient populations, including older adults and those with prior treatments, is crucial for real-world clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of teriflunomide (14 mg once daily) in unselected multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
• To analyze the impact of patient age and prior treatment history on teriflunomide's outcomes.
• To assess changes in relapse rates and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.

Main Methods:

• A prespecified analysis of a non-interventional, prospective, real-world study conducted in Germany.
• Inclusion of 558 patients over 45 years old and 593 pre-treated patients.
• Assessment of relapse rates and EDSS scores at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months.

Main Results:

• Teriflunomide treatment led to a significant decrease in relapse rates in all age groups and both treatment-naïve and pre-treated patients.
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores remained stable across all age groups and treatment histories over 24 months.
• Adverse event rates varied by age, with higher discontinuation rates in older patients, primarily due to gastrointestinal and hair-related side effects; pre-treated patients showed lower AE rates.

Conclusions:

• Teriflunomide demonstrates effectiveness and safety in routine clinical practice for multiple sclerosis patients across all age groups, including older individuals.
• Treatment outcomes are positive irrespective of prior treatment status, supporting its broad applicability.
• The study confirms teriflunomide's benefit in managing MS in a real-world setting.