Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis
Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis Relapsing forms Interferon-beta therapy
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 172
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of oral cladribine when taken in combination with Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

This study randomized around 200 participants from approximately 50 sites located world-wide, who have experienced at least one relapse while taking IFN-beta therapy within 48 weeks prior to Screening, irrespective of disability progression. Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) participants, who were still experiencing relapses, and participants who have received disease modifying drugs (DMDs), other than IFN-beta therapy, during their MS treatment history, but were currently on IFN-beta therapy and have experienced active MS symptoms (at least 1 relapse) during the 48 weeks prior to Screening, were enrolled.

Participants were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive up to 4 cycles of oral cladribine or matching placebo in combination with IFN-beta therapy. Participants who completed the double-blind portion of the study were invited to participate in an open-label extension phase of matching study design.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: Participants received cladribine tablets orally as cumulative dose of 0.875 mg/kg over a course of 4-5 consecutive days at Week 1, 5, 48, and 52 resulting in total cladribine dose of 3.5 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) along with interferon (IFN)-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation \[RNF\] 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 microgram (mcg) every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during the Double blind period (DBP) of 96 weeks. arm 2: Participants received matching placebo tablets orally over a course of 4-5 consecutive days at Week 1, 5, 48, and 52 along with IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during the DB period of 96 weeks. arm 3: Participants who received cladribine 3.5 mg/kg initially and completed DB period entered in the open label (OL) extension (Ext.) period. In OL Ext. period, participant who met the eligibility criteria received OL oral cladribine 3.5 mg/kg over maximum of 48 weeks along with IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks. arm 4: Participants who received placebo initially and completed DB period entered in the OL Ext. period. In OL Ext. period, participant who met the eligibility criteria received OL oral cladribine 3.5 mg/kg over maximum of 48 weeks along with IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks. arm 5: Participants who received cladribine 3.5 mg/kg initially and completed DB period entered in the OL ext. safety follow up period. In this period, participants who did not meet eligibility criteria received only IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks. arm 6: Participants who received placebo initially and completed DB period entered in the OL ext. safety follow up period. In this period, participants who did not meet eligibility criteria received only IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks.

Interventions: intervention 1: Cladribine intervention 2: Placebo intervention 3: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Participants were administered with cladribine tablets orally as cumulative dose. intervention 2: Participants were administered with placebo orally. intervention 3: Participants received IFN-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation \[RNF\] 44 microgram \[mcg\] three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during both DB period of 96 weeks and OL extension period of 48 weeks.

Protocol document: