Highlights from ECTRIMS include new data for Gilenya, Sativex and Aubagio

New data presented at the 28th congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), held in Lyon, France, last week, has shown that once-daily dosing with Swiss drug major Novartis’ (NOVN: VX) multiple sclerosis (MS) pill Gilenya (fingolimod) has a significant early effect on reducing brain volume loss.

People treated with fingolimod had between a 35%-39% reduction in brain volume loss compared with placebo at six months in the FREEDOMS and FREEDOMS II studies. The expected time lag between the start of treatment and the onset of efficacy is an important consideration for MS therapy, as early benefits may prevent excess morbidity.

“Understanding the onset of efficacy is an important consideration in the treatment of MS as early effective treatment may improve patient outcomes,” said Ludwig Kappos, professor and chairman of Neurology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland, and lead author of the Phase III FREEDOMS trial on fingolimod. “The new analysis of Phase III data shows a significant early effect of fingolimod on relapses and MRI measures and further supports its role as a valuable treatment option for relapsing-remitting MS.”