Comparing the effectiveness of Ublituximab against Teriflunomide in treating multiple sclerosis
Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM. Posted on September 5th, 2022
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by the immune system attacking healthy myelin sheath insulating neurons. Since B cells’ activity is essential to the process of autoimmunity, many monoclonal antibodies targeting B-cells have been approved as treatment. Ublituximab, an antibody that binds to CD20 expressed on B-cell, is being assessed for its efficacy against an approved treatment - Teriflunomide - in this paper.
The paper included data from the 2 phase 3 clinical trials of approximately 1,100 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Half of the participants were given intravenous ublituximab injection and oral placebo; the other half were given intravenous placebo and oral teriflunomide. Both trials found that the annualized relapse rate of the ublituximab group was around 0.08; less than the rate of those receiving teriflunomide (0.19). In addition, patients receiving ublituximab experience less brain lesions. These clinical effects can be explained by the fact that the B-cell depletion rate is higher in the group receiving ublituximab . In terms of safety, infection is a common adverse event due to the immunosuppressive effect, and the rate of infection is similar between the two comparison groups.
The paper included data from the 2 phase 3 clinical trials of approximately 1,100 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Half of the participants were given intravenous ublituximab injection and oral placebo; the other half were given intravenous placebo and oral teriflunomide. Both trials found that the annualized relapse rate of the ublituximab group was around 0.08; less than the rate of those receiving teriflunomide (0.19). In addition, patients receiving ublituximab experience less brain lesions. These clinical effects can be explained by the fact that the B-cell depletion rate is higher in the group receiving ublituximab . In terms of safety, infection is a common adverse event due to the immunosuppressive effect, and the rate of infection is similar between the two comparison groups.