John DeLuca, PhD: Ozanimod Resulted in Improved Cognitive Processing Speed in Relapsing MS

"One of the big problems we know in persons with MS is they have cognitive problems as a result of the disease, and right now, there are really no therapies available for addressing the cognitive problems."

At the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis held in Dallas, Texas, John DeLuca, PhD, gave a presentation on the assessment of cognitive processing speed in the SUNBEAM trial based on performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Researchers found that compared with interferon beta-1a, ozanimod resulted in sustained improvement in cognitive processing speed through 12 months, further supporting the efficacy of this therapy in relapsing multiple sclerosis.

In the total SUNBEAM trial population, 25% of study participants who showed stability at month 6 also showed improvement at month 12. Among those who demonstrated improvement in SDMT score at month 6, greater proportions treated with ozanimod HCI 0.5 mg and 1 mg than with interferon beta-1a sustained improvement at month 12 (63% and 66% vs. 56%, respectively).

To provide further insight into the data of this trial and the clinical impact, NeurologyLive spoke with the Senior Vice President for Research and Training at Kessler Foundation, and professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Department of Neurology at Rutgers University Medical School, in an interview at the meeting.