Ozanimod Shows Promise in Preserving Brain Volume in Patients With Early Relapsing MS

In a study of patients with early relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment with ozanimod showed promising results in preserving brain volume over 1 year, potentially slowing down the accelerated brain volume loss seen in patients with MS.

Patients with relapsing MS often experience accelerated brain volume loss, which can be linked to cognitive impairment. Treatment with ozanimod has been shown to reduce brain volume loss and improve cognitive processing speed in comparison to other treatments. The ongoing ENLIGHTEN study aims to assess brain volume and cognitive functioning over a 3-year period in patients with early relapsing MS treated with ozanimod 0.92 mg, with the current objective being to report changes in brain volumes over a 1-year timeframe.

The ENLIGHTEN study includes patients in the US and Canada aged 18 to 65 years with a recent MS diagnosis and specific criteria. Changes in brain volumes over 1 year were measured using various methods on different brain regions. Statistical analyses were performed to generate least squares means and confidence intervals accounting for baseline volume and other factors. The analysis was done using a mixed-effect model with repeated measures.

A total of 188 patients received at least 1 dose of ozanimod, with an average age of 39.5 years and 78.7% female. Of these patients, 160 had MRI scans at baseline and year 1, with similar demographics. The percentage change in brain volume from baseline to year 1 varied across different regions, with least squares mean percentage change showing consistent trends. Overall, there was a slight decrease in whole brain volume and slight increases in other brain regions over the year.

“In patients with early RMS taking ozanimod for 1 year, WBV decreased at a rate consistent with what is expected in healthy controls. These findings suggest preservation of brain volume during the first year of ozanimod treatment in patients with early RMS,” said researchers. 

Reference
Zivadinov R, Bergsland N, Dwyer M. Brain volume changes in ozanimod-treated patients with early relapsing multiple sclerosis: year 1 interim analysis of the ENLIGHTEN study. Presented at: 2025 ACTRIMS Forum; February 27-March 1; West Palm, Beach, FL; P219.