Value of siponimod to treat SPMS assessed by the ICER

An Evidence Report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of Swiss pharma giant Novartis’ Mayzent (siponimod) for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) was released on Thursday by the USA’s Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER).

Siponimod was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including active SPMS. However, cost-effectiveness watchdog ICER’s assessment focuses on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of siponimod for all patients with SPMS (both active and non-active), which was the population studied in the Phase III trial.

“Progression occurring independent of episodes of relapse is the hallmark of progressive MS, and while a number of therapies for MS have efficacy in reducing relapses, few have shown benefit in slowing this independent progression,” said Dr David Rind, the ICER’s chief medical officer. “While the FDA did not approve siponimod for non-active SPMS, we felt it remained important to review the data assessing siponimod’s potential benefit in all SPMS, including in those patients for whom disease mainly involves progression rather than relapses,” he added.