Recurrent natalizumab-related aseptic meningitis in a patient with multiple sclerosis

The 5-year Tysabri global observational program in safety (TYGRIS) study confirms the long-term safety profile of natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Natalizumab is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and has a well-characterized safety profile, with more than 10 years of postmarketing experience. TYGRIS was a 5-year observational cohort study designed to obtain long-term safety data in natalizumab-treated MS patients. We examined the incidence and pattern of serious adverse events (SAEs) in this large postmarketing sample of natalizumab-treated patients.

METHODS

Investigators reported SAEs in natalizumab-treated patients. Malignancy incidence rates were compared with rates in the general population using external databases.

RESULTS

Of 6508 enrolled patients, 4938 (75.9%) completed the study. SAEs occurring in more than 0.5% of patients included urinary tract infection (n = 50; 0.8%), pneumonia (n = 46; 0.7%), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML; n = 44; 0.7%), and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (n = 44; 0.7%). Fifty-five patients (0.9%) experienced treatment-emergent serious opportunistic infections, 44 of which were PML. Two patients with PML died. The overall malignancy incidence rate was 449.0 per 100,000 patient-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 375.1-533.1). With few exceptions, incidence rates for individual malignancies had 95% CIs encompassing incidence rates in the general population. Hepatotoxic events occurred in 6 patients; 4 patients had evidence of alternative cause or confounders. Of 96 fatal events, investigators considered 81 unrelated or unlikely to be related to treatment and 5 related or possibly related; causality was not provided for 10.

CONCLUSION

Data from this large, long-term study indicate that the nature, character, and frequency of SAEs in real-world settings are consistent with natalizumab's known safety profile. (Funded by Biogen; ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT00477113 and NCT00483847.).

Risks and risk management in modern multiple sclerosis immunotherapeutic treatment

In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) owing to the approval of a number of new drugs with very distinct mechanisms of action. All approved disease-modifying drugs primarily work directly on the immune system. However, the identification of an ‘optimal choice’ for individual patients with regard to treatment efficacy, treatment adherence and side-effect profile has become increasingly complex including conceptual as well as practical considerations. Similarly, there are peculiarities and specific requirements with regard to treatment monitoring, especially in relation to immunosuppression, the development of secondary immune-related complications, as well as the existence of drug-specific on- and off-target effects. Both classical immunosuppression and selective immune interventions generate a spectrum of potential therapy-related complications. This article provides a comprehensive overview of available immunotherapeutics for MS and their risks, detailing individual mechanisms of action and side-effect profiles. Furthermore, practical recommendations for patients treated with modern MS immunotherapeutics are provided.

Clinical commentary on ‘Recurrent natalizumab-related aseptic meningitis in a patient with multiple sclerosis’, by Foley et al

This clinical commentary discusses the occurrence of drug-induced aseptic meningitis in patients undergoing natalizumab treatment and other immunotherapies.