The Long-Term Efficacy of Inebilizumab in NMOSD: Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MAS

“Most of the attacks that occur, occur within the first 6 months of treatment—some up to about a year—but then after that, the interesting thing that we saw was a complete flattening of effect in terms of clinical attacks. After about a year of treatment, very, very few study participants experienced attacks of NMOSD.”

At the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, April 17-22, a number of posters were presented sharing data on inebilizumab (Uplizna; Viela Bio), an FDA-approved treatment for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). In particular, 2 of these posters detailed long-term data on the monoclonal antibody’s efficacy and safety in patients with NMOSD.^1,2

All told, the open-label extension (OLE) of the N-MOmentum trial (NCT02200770) showed that inebilizumab continued to provide benefits similar to those seen in the randomized controlled period of the trial. Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MCR, FAAN, clinical research director, UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center, and professor of clinical neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, told NeurologyLive that the reduction in relapse rates was particularly promising.

In this interview, Cree spoke to the data that were presented at the AAN annual meeting, as well as the clinical importance of the low relapse rates experienced with this therapy. For physicians, he said, it’s vital to be able to inform patients that the annual attack rate is as low as 0.06 per year. Cree also provided some context to the safety of the therapy and its effect on immunoglobulin levels, specifically due to its relatively broad interactions with B cells.

For more coverage of AAN 2021, click here.

REFERENCES
1. Cree B, Bennett J, Weinshenker B, et al. Long-term efficacy outcomes with inebilizumab treatment in NMOSD: the N-MOmentum trial. Presented at 2021 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting; April 17-22. Abstract P15.076
2. Cree B, Bennett J, Weinshenker B, et al. Long-term safety outcomes with inebilizumab treatment in NMOSD: the N-MOmentum trial. Presented at 2021 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting; April 17-22. Abstract P15.100