In RRMS, DMTs Appear to Be Efficacious Regardless of Age

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) appear to be efficacious regardless of age in the treatment of disease activity among patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a recent meta-analysis.

In their analysis, the authors evaluated 26 trials that had examined the efficacy of 14 DMTs among patients with RRMS (N = 28,082) using measures including annualized relapse rate (ARR), gadonlinum-enhanced lesions on magnetic resonance imaging, and new T2 lesions.

The association of age with treatment efficacy on a group level was assessed via weighted linear regression using mean patient age at baseline for each trial included in the meta-analysis.

The results of the meta-analysis did not reveal any statistically significant associations of age with ARR reductions, gadolinium-enhanced lesions, and new T2 lesions among the treatment group compared with groups who received placebo.

The authors of the analysis noted that “[c]linical trials select for patients with baseline disease activity regardless of age, thereby not representing real-world patients with RRMS, where disease activity declines with age.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:
Zhang Y, Gonzalez Caldito N, Shirani A, et al. Aging and efficacy of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis of clinical trials. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2021;13. doi:10.1177/1756286420969016