Commentary
Video
How Vidofludimus Calcium Addresses Unmet Treatment Needs in Multiple Sclerosis: Andreas Muehler, MD, MBA
Author(s):
The chief medical officer at Immunic provided clinical insight on the dual mechanism of action of vidofludimus calcium, and how its positioned as a treatment option across all MS subtypes. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 3 minutes
"We need to get drugs that address both types of disability progression—relapse-associated worsening and progression independent of relapse activity. Vidofludimus calcium aims to meet that unmet medical need, especially for patients in later stages where progression becomes a significant concern."
At the 40th European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Congress, held September 18-20, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Immunic presented an interim analysis from the phase 2 CALLIPER study (NCT05054140) assessing its investigational agent vidofludimus calcium in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). Overall, the interim analysis featured 203 patients from the study which evaluated the efficacy and safety of the agent, a nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1) activator.
After 24 weeks of treatment, patients in the trial showed a reduction in serum neurofilament light (NfL) by 22.4% (P = .01, post hoc), with effects that were consistent across each progressive MS subtype. In addition, among those with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of less than 5.5, investigators observed a 10% decrease in NfL in vidofludimus calcium-treated patients vs a 20% increase for those on placebo. For those with EDSS scores above 5.5, there was a 2% decrease in the active treatment group vs a 12% increase for those on placebo.
During the meeting, Andreas Muehler, MD, MBA, chief medical officer at Immunic, sat down to discuss the mechanism of action behind vidofludimus calcium. In the discussion, he talked about the unique nature of the agent, and how it can impact relapse-associated worsening and progression independent of relapse activity. He stressed that the drug aims to cover both areas, which becomes especially crucial as patients progress in the later stages of the disease when relapse activity declines but disability progression continues.
