Safety and Efficacy of Siponimod (BAF312) in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Ludwig Kappos, David K. B. Li, Olaf Stüve, Hans-Peter Hartung, Mark S. Freedman, Bernhard Hemmer, Peter Rieckmann, Xavier Montalban, Tjalf Ziemssen, Brian Hunter, Sophie Arnould, Erik Wallström, Krzysztof Selmaj
Journal: JAMA Neurology (2016)

<h3>Importance</h3> This dose-blinded extension of the phase 2 BOLD (BAF312 on MRI Lesion Given Once Daily) Study in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis provides evidence on disease activity and safety of a range of siponimod doses for up to 24 months. <h3>Objective</h3> To assess the safety and efficacy of siponimod for up to 24 months during the dose-blinded extension of the BOLD Study. <h3>Design, Setting, and Participants</h3> At extension baseline in a randomized clinical trial, patients taking siponimod continued at the originally assigned dose and patients taking placebo were rerandomized to the 5 siponimod doses. Initial treatment was titrated over 10 days. A total of 252 eligible patients were treated at specialized multiple sclerosis centers for this study conducted from August 30, 2010, through June 3, 2013. <h3>Interventions</h3> Siponimod at 10-mg, 2-mg, 1.25-mg, 0.5-mg, and 0.25-mg doses. <h3>Main Outcomes and Measures</h3> Safety assessment included blood tests, documentation of adverse events at regular scheduled visits and Holter monitoring; key efficacy measures were annualized relapse rate and magnetic resonance imaging lesion activity. <h3>Results</h3> Among the 252 eligible patients, the mean (SD) ages were 37.2 (8.4) years, 35.2 (9.1) years, 34.0 (7.6) years, 35.1 (9.2) years, and 36.8 (9.1) years in the 0.25-mg, 0.5-mg, 1.25-mg, 2-mg, and 10-mg groups. Of the 252 patients, 184 (73%) entered the extension and received siponimod (10 mg: n = 33; 2 mg: n = 29; 1.25 mg: n = 43; 0.5 mg: n = 29; and 0.25 mg: n = 50); 159 (86.4%) completed the dose-blinded extension. The incidence of adverse events was similar across treatment groups (10 mg: 87.9%; 2 mg: 89.7%; 1.25 mg: 88.4%; 0.5 mg: 96.6%; and 0.25 mg: 84.0%). Nine patients reported serious adverse events (2 mg: 3/29 [10.3%], 1.25 mg: 1/43 [2.3%], 0.5 mg: 4/29 [13.8%], and 0.25 mg: 1/50 [2.0%]; no serious adverse event was reported for more than 1 patient and no new safety signals occurred compared with the BOLD Study. Dose titration mitigated symptomatic bradycardic events. Reductions in mean (95% CI) gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesion counts from the last BOLD assessment were sustained in the 10-mg, 2-mg, 1.25-mg, and 0.5-mg dose groups (0 [0-0], 0.1 [0-1.9], 0.1 [0-2.6], and 0.1 [0-2.8] at month 24, respectively). At the 3 highest vs 2 lowest doses, the estimated new/newly enlarging T2 lesion counts (95% CIs) were lower during months 6 to 12 (0.5 [0.2-1.3], 0.4 [0.2-1.1], and 0.2 [0.1-0.6] vs 1.3 [0.6-2.8] and 1.4 [0.7-2.7]), months 12 to 18 (0.4 [0.1-1.1], 0.4 [0.1-1.3], and 0.4 [0.2-1.0] vs 1.0 [0.4-2.6] and 3.6 [1.7-7.6]), and months 18 to 24 (0 [0-not estimable], 0.9 [0.1-7.6], and 0.1 [0-1.7] vs 1.6 [0.3-7.7] and 2.0 [0.4-9.5]). Annualized relapse rates (95% CIs) up to month 24 were similarly lower for the 3 highest doses: 0.22 (0.12-0.40) for 10 mg, 0.20 (0.10-0.38) for 2 mg, and 0.14 (0.08-0.26) for 1.25 mg vs 0.33 (0.19-0.56) for 0.5 mg and 0.33 (0.21-0.50) for 0.25 mg. <h3>Conclusions and Relevance</h3> For up to 24 months of siponimod treatment, multiple sclerosis disease activity was low and there were no new safety signals; investigation in phase 3 trials is encouraged. <h3>Trial Registration</h3> clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01185821