Ozanimod: A Review in Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) require effective disease-modifying therapies.
• Oral sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators (S1PRMs) offer a new therapeutic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ozanimod in patients with RMS.
• To compare ozanimod with interferon-beta 1a (IFN-β1a) in a Phase III clinical trial.

Main Methods:

• Pivotal Phase III clinical trials involving patients with RMS.
• Assessment of annualized relapse rates (ARR), MRI lesion counts, and brain volume changes.
• Monitoring of adverse events and disability progression.

Main Results:

• Ozanimod significantly reduced ARR and new/enlarging T2 and gadolinium-enhancing lesions compared to IFN-β1a.
• Reduced brain volume loss was observed with ozanimod treatment.
• No significant difference in 3- and 6-month disability progression was noted.
• Common adverse reactions included upper respiratory tract infection and elevated hepatic transaminases.
• Efficacy and tolerability were sustained over 6 years.

Conclusions:

• Ozanimod is an effective oral disease-modifying therapy for RMS.
• It offers a valuable addition to the treatment landscape for RMS patients.
• Manageable adverse events and no requirement for first-dose cardiac monitoring enhance its profile.