1
|
Schneider M, Kramer J, Banks A, Moses H. New onset lymphopenia in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis switching from long-standing dimethyl fumarate treatment to diroximel fumarate: A case series. Mult Scler 2024:13524585241242027. [PMID: 38605496 DOI: 10.1177/13524585241242027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Lymphopenia is a known adverse effect in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) treated with fumaric acids. We present a case series of four patients diagnosed with RMS with prolonged lymphocyte stability on dimethyl fumarate for over 1 year who developed significant lymphopenia after transitioning to diroximel fumarate. This case series highlights the need for further research to elucidate the risk of lymphopenia in patients switching between fumaric acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan Schneider
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John Kramer
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Aimee Banks
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Harold Moses
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yousuf MS, Moreno MM, Li J, He L, Royer D, Zhang J, Woodall BJ, Grace PM, Price TJ. Diroximel fumarate acts through Nrf2 to attenuate methylglyoxal-induced nociception in mice and decreases ISR activation in DRG neurons. bioRxiv 2023:2023.12.22.572877. [PMID: 38187575 PMCID: PMC10769417 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.572877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Diabetic neuropathic pain is associated with elevated plasma levels of methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO is a metabolite of glycolysis that causes mechanical hypersensitivity in mice by inducing the integrated stress response (ISR), which is characterized by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that neutralize MGO. We hypothesized that activating Nrf2 using diroximel fumarate (DRF) would alleviate MGO-induced pain hypersensitivity. We pretreated male and female C57BL/6 mice daily with oral DRF prior to intraplantar injection of MGO (20 ng). DRF (100 mg/kg) treated animals were protected from developing MGO-induced mechanical and cold hypersensitivity. Using Nrf2 knockout mice we demonstrate that Nrf2 is necessary for the anti-nociceptive effects of DRF. In cultured mouse and human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons, we found that MGO induced elevated levels of p-eIF2α. Co-treatment of MGO (1 μM) with monomethyl fumarate (MMF, 10, 20, 50 μM), the active metabolite of DRF, reduced p-eIF2α levels and prevented aberrant neurite outgrowth in human DRG neurons. Our data show that targeting the Nrf2 antioxidant system with DRF is a strategy to potentially alleviate pain associated with elevated MGO levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saad Yousuf
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Marisol Mancilla Moreno
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Jiahe Li
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Lucy He
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Danielle Royer
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Jennifer Zhang
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Brodie J Woodall
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Peter M Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Theodore J Price
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tremblay MA, Vukusic S, Shanmugasundaram M, Bozin I, Levin S, Gocke A, Wipfler P. Vaccine response in people with multiple sclerosis treated with fumarates. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin 2023; 9:20552173231191170. [PMID: 37692293 PMCID: PMC10483985 DOI: 10.1177/20552173231191170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) have an increased risk of infection. As disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and other treatments may interact with the immune system, there may be concerns about vaccine efficacy and safety. Therefore, it is important to evaluate possible interactions between DMTs and vaccines. The fumarates, dimethyl fumarate, diroximel fumarate, and monomethyl fumarate, are approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis. This review assesses the evidence on vaccine response in pwMS treated with fumarates, with a particular focus on COVID-19 vaccines. Treatment with fumarates does not appear to result in blunting of humoral responses to vaccination; for COVID-19 vaccines, particularly RNA-based vaccines, evidence indicates antibody responses similar to those of healthy recipients. While data on the effect of fumarates on T-cell responses are limited, they do not indicate any significant blunting. COVID-19 vaccines impart a similar degree of protection against severe COVID-19 infection for pwMS on fumarates as in the general population. Adverse reactions following vaccination are generally consistent with those observed in the wider population; no additional safety signals have emerged in those on fumarates. Additionally, no increase in relapse has been observed in pwMS following vaccination. In pwMS receiving fumarates, vaccination is generally safe and elicits protective immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Tremblay
- Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center, RWJ Barnabas Health, Livingston, NJ, USA
| | - Sandra Vukusic
- Service de Neurologie, Sclérose en Plaques, Pathologies de la Myéline et Neuro-Inflammation, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Bron, France
- Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Eugène Devic EDMUS Foundation Against Multiple Sclerosis, Bron, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter Wipfler
- Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gül S, Ahmed AF, McGraw C. Vaginal Herpes Zoster While Under Treatment for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis With Diroximel Fumarate. Cureus 2023; 15:e40689. [PMID: 37485166 PMCID: PMC10358372 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder that disproportionately affects middle-aged women, and is capable of resulting in severe disability. However, the use of disease-modifying therapies has profoundly contributed to the improvement in the morbidity of the disorder. Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is a second-generation drug that has seen success in the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). While its relatively mild side effects of gastrointestinal discomfort are known, the less common complications are often missed in clinical settings. This includes a resulting susceptibility to opportunistic infections. In this case report, we describe a patient who experienced lymphopenia, recurrent yeast infections, and labial shingles while on the medication. This case highlights the side effects and the rare complications of the immunomodulator, DRF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Gül
- Neurology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA
| | - Adeenah F Ahmed
- Neurology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA
| | - Corey McGraw
- Neurology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wundes A, Wray S, Gold R, Singer BA, Jasinska E, Ziemssen T, de Seze J, Repovic P, Chen H, Hanna J, Messer J, Miller C, Naismith RT. Improved gastrointestinal profile with diroximel fumarate is associated with a positive impact on quality of life compared with dimethyl fumarate: results from the randomized, double-blind, phase III EVOLVE-MS-2 study. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2021; 14:1756286421993999. [PMID: 33796143 PMCID: PMC7985943 DOI: 10.1177/1756286421993999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is a novel oral fumarate approved for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). DRF demonstrated significantly improved gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability versus dimethyl fumarate (DMF) with fewer days of Individual Gastrointestinal Symptom and Impact Scale (IGISIS) scores ⩾2, GI adverse events (AEs), and treatment discontinuations due to GI AEs. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of GI tolerability events on quality of life (QoL) for patients with relapsing–remitting MS who received DRF or DMF in EVOLVE-MS-2. Methods: A post hoc analysis was conducted in patients who were enrolled in the randomized, blinded, 5-week, EVOLVE-MS-2 [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03093324] study of DRF versus DMF. Patients completed daily IGISIS and Global GISIS (GGISIS) eDiary questionnaires to assess GI symptom intensity and interference with daily activities and work. Results: In total, 504 patients (DRF, n = 253; DMF, n = 251) received study drug and 502 (DRF, n = 253; DMF, n = 249) completed at least one post-baseline questionnaire. With DRF, GI symptoms were less likely to interfere ‘quite a bit’ or ‘extremely’ with regular daily activities [IGISIS: DRF, 9.5% (24/253) versus DMF, 28.9% (72/249)] or work productivity [GGISIS: DRF, 6.1% (10/165) versus DMF, 11.3% (18/159)]. DRF-treated patients had fewer days with ⩾1 h of missed work (DRF, 43 days, n = 20 versus DMF, 88 days, n = 26). DMF-treated patients reported highest GI symptom severity and missed work at week 2–3 shortly after completing the titration period, which coincided with the majority of GI-related treatment discontinuations [58.3% (7/12)]. GI tolerability AEs [DRF, 34.8% (88/253); DMF, 48.2% (121/251)], concomitant symptomatic medication use [DRF, 19.3% (17/88) versus DMF, 30.6% (37/121)], and GI-related discontinuations (DRF, 0.8% versus DMF, 4.8%) were lower with DRF versus DMF. Conclusions: The improved GI tolerability with DRF translated into clinically meaningful benefits to QoL, as patients experienced less impact on daily life and work and required less concomitant symptomatic medication use. Trial registration: [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03093324]
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette Wundes
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sibyl Wray
- Hope Neurology MS Center, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Ralf Gold
- Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Barry A Singer
- The MS Center for Innovations in Care, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Elzbieta Jasinska
- Collegium Medicum UJK and Clinical Center, RESMEDICA, Kielce, Poland
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jerome de Seze
- Strasbourg University Hospital and Clinical Investigation Center, INSER 1434, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pavle Repovic
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Jordan Messer
- Biogen, 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA 02142-1031, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is a new emerging therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis. The levels of its active metabolite, monomethyl fumarate, are bioequivalent to the levels generated from dimethyl fumarate (DMF) treatment. The efficacy and safety profiles of DRF are expected to be similar to the well-established profiles of DMF. The metabolism of DRF leads to lower concentration of methanol in the small intestine than with DMF and thus reduced severity and frequency of gastrointestinal adverse events. DRF seems a promising alternative to DMF and other first-line therapies for multiple sclerosis. The current review is based on the two existing Phase III trials of DRF: the interim analysis of the EVOLVE-MS-1 trial and the completed EVOLVE-MS-2 trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elise Jonasson
- Department of Neurology, Hospital South West Jutland, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Tobias Sejbaek
- Department of Neurology, Hospital South West Jutland, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark.,BRIDGE, Brain Research - Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark.,MS Alliance of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Naismith RT, Wolinsky JS, Wundes A, LaGanke C, Arnold DL, Obradovic D, Freedman MS, Gudesblatt M, Ziemssen T, Kandinov B, Bidollari I, Lopez-Bresnahan M, Nangia N, Rezendes D, Yang L, Chen H, Liu S, Hanna J, Miller C, Leigh-Pemberton R. Diroximel fumarate (DRF) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Interim safety and efficacy results from the phase 3 EVOLVE-MS-1 study. Mult Scler 2019; 26:1729-1739. [PMID: 31680631 PMCID: PMC7604551 DOI: 10.1177/1352458519881761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is a novel oral fumarate for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). DRF and the approved drug dimethyl fumarate yield bioequivalent exposure to the active metabolite monomethyl fumarate; thus, efficacy/safety profiles are expected to be similar. However, DRF's distinct chemical structure may result in a differentiated gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability profile. OBJECTIVE To report interim safety/efficacy findings from patients in the ongoing EVOLVE-MS-1 study. METHODS EVOLVE-MS-1 is an ongoing, open-label, 96-week, phase 3 study assessing DRF safety, tolerability, and efficacy in RRMS patients. Primary endpoint is safety and tolerability; efficacy endpoints are exploratory. RESULTS As of March 2018, 696 patients were enrolled; median exposure was 59.9 (range: 0.1-98.9) weeks. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 84.6% (589/696) of patients; the majority were mild (31.2%; 217/696) or moderate (46.8%; 326/696) in severity. Overall treatment discontinuation was 14.9%; 6.3% due to AEs and <1% due to GI AEs. At Week 48, mean number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions was significantly reduced from baseline (77%; p < 0.0001) and adjusted annualized relapse rate was low (0.16; 95% confidence interval: 0.13-0.20). CONCLUSION Interim data from EVOLVE-MS-1 suggest DRF is a well-tolerated treatment with a favorable safety/efficacy profile for patients with RRMS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jerry S Wolinsky
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Annette Wundes
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Douglas L Arnold
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada/NeuroRx Research Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Mark S Freedman
- University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|