Vaccine response in people with multiple sclerosis treated with fumarates

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) face higher infection risks.
• Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS may affect vaccine efficacy and safety.
• Fumarates (dimethyl fumarate, diroximel fumarate, monomethyl fumarate) are common MS treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review vaccine response evidence in pwMS treated with fumarates.
• To assess safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in this population.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on fumarate treatment and vaccination in pwMS.
• Focus on humoral and T-cell responses.
• Analysis of safety data and relapse rates post-vaccination.

Main Results:

• Fumarates do not appear to blunt humoral immune responses to vaccines.
• COVID-19 vaccine antibody responses in pwMS on fumarates are similar to healthy individuals.
• Vaccination provides comparable protection against severe COVID-19; no new safety concerns or increased relapse rates were observed.

Conclusions:

• Vaccination is generally safe and elicits protective immune responses in pwMS on fumarates.
• Fumarate therapy does not significantly impair vaccine efficacy.
• pwMS on fumarates should follow standard vaccination guidelines.