MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Early DMT Use, Aubagio vs. Tecfidera, Lipoic Acid Study, MS Forums

Early Use of High-efficacy DMTs of Long-term Benefit to MS Patients, Real-world Study Reports

The question of whether to start treating multiple sclerosis (MS) with an older, less effective disease-modifying therapy (DMT) and then move to a more effective one — or use a heavy-hitting medication right from the start — is a basic one for people with MS. As I wrote in a recent column, it now seems that more neurologists are moving to the “hit ’em hard right away” philosophy. This is another report about that study.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients given intensive disease-modifying therapies early in their disease course have more favorable long-term outcomes than those treated with an escalating regimen, real-world data show.

The study, “Clinical Outcomes of Escalation vs Early Intensive Disease-Modifying Therapy in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis,” was published in the journal JAMA Neurology.

Click here to read the full story.

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Aubagio, Tecfidera Show Comparable Effectiveness in Relapsing MS, Real-world Phase 4 Trial Finds

I like real-world studies because as a layman, I think they’re more likely than clinical trials to report the results of treatments as we live with them. This one will provide more data for people who are considering switching medications. Note: Sanofi Genzyme, the manufacturer of Aubagio (teriflunomide), financially supported the writing and statistical reporting, and two of its employees reviewed the report.

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Aubagio (teriflunomide) seems to be superior to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) in slowing whole brain shrinkage in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), a new Phase 4 clinical trial shows. However, Aubagio and Tecfidera have similar beneficial effects in achieving other clinical goals and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, including the number of brain lesions.

The research article reporting the findings, “Comparative effectiveness of teriflunomide and dimethyl fumarate in patients with relapsing forms of MS in the retrospective real-world Teri-RADAR study,” was published in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research.

Click here to read the full story.

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Participants Sought for Clinical Trial Studying Effects of Lipoic Acid on Progressive MS

Many people believe in dietary supplements to treat MS. Here’s a chance to find out if they’re right about one of them.

A clinical trial to test the effects of antioxidant treatment with lipoic acid on progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is recruiting 118 participants at seven sites in North America.

The study sites include: Birmingham, Alabama; Burlington, Vermont; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; Washington, D.C.; and Ontario, Canada.

Click here to read the full story.

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Join the Multiple Sclerosis News Today Forums

Lots of interesting discussions take place in our MS News Today Forums area. Click on one of the following links to join in:

• What is the first thing you would do if you were free from MS?
• Is falling an issue for you? Is there anything you can do to help prevent them?
• Is incontinence an issue for you?

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Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.