Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is more efficient at preventing relapses, and has a lower discontinuation rate than Aubagio (teriflunomide), according to a Danish study.
The study “Comparative effectiveness of teriflunomide and dimethyl fumarate: A nationwide cohort study” was published in the journal Neurology.
Aubagio (marketed by Sanofi Genzyme) and Tecfidera (marketed by Biogen) are two oral disease-modifying therapies used as first-line treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Data from Phase 3 clinical trials supported the therapies’ approvals – Aubagio was assessed in the TEMSO (NCT00134563) and TOWER (NCT00751881) trials, and Tecfidera in the DEFINE (NCT00420212) and CONFIRM (NCT00451451) trials.
In summary, both therapies significantly reduced the annualized relapse rate (AAR) over two years, and the risk of 12-week confirmed disability worsening, compared to a placebo. Moreover, treatment decreased the number of new or enlarging active lesions, as shown by MRI.
However, head-to-head comparisons using real-world data assessing the effectiveness and safety of Aubagio and Tecfidera is limited. Pursuing this approach, however, “could provide important evidence for future treatment guidelines of patients with MS,” researchers wrote.
In order to make a direct comparison between the two therapies, researchers analyzed patients with RRMS registered in the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry who took Aubagio or Tecfidera from October 2013 to May 2018.
The analysis compared patient ARRs between both disease-modifying therapies, which was the study’s main objective. Secondary objectives included time to first relapse (the interval between treatment start and the first relapse), time to 6-month disability measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (a measure of disability), reasons for discontinuation or switch, and adverse events (side effects).