Key clinical point: Teriflunomide is effective and well-tolerated in treatment-naive patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), with females with mild disease activity and lesser disability most likely to benefit.
Major finding: Overall, 79% of patients achieved No Evidence of Disease Activity 3 (NEDA) at 12 months, with the mean annualized relapse rate reducing significantly ( P < .001), the mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score remaining stable ( P = .658), and only 8.3% of patients discontinuing treatment because of adverse events. Male sex (hazard ratio [HR] 1.856; P < .017), frequent relapses before treatment (HR 3.056; P < .000), and a baseline EDSS score of ≥4 (HR 2.682; P < .004) were associated with the failure to achieve NEDA 3.
Study details: This was an observational cohort study including 217 treatment-naive patients with RRMS who were treated with teriflunomide.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, and others. The authors declared no conflicts of interests.
Source: Zhang Y et al. Real-world outcomes of teriflunomide in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: A prospective cohort study. J Neurol. 2022 (Apr 11). Doi: 10.1007/s00415-022-11118-7