A new drug in the class of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators for MS has been shown to be effective – and potentially safer than predecessors – in two trials published this week.
If it goes on to gain regulatory approval, ozanimod will follow fingolimod (Gilenya) and siponimod (Mayzent) as a treatment of secondary progressive MS, according to a commentary published in Lancet Neurology.
The journal published the results of the results of two phase 3 trials of ozanimod, in which the selective oral sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator was compared to interferon beta-1a in adults with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis and with recent inflammatory disease activity.
The SUNBEAM trial, which followed up patients for 12 months found that ozanimod was well tolerated and demonstrated a significantly lower relapse rate than interferon beta-1a.
Notably, given concerns about cardiac conduction adverse effects of fingolimod, there were no reports of clinically significant bradycardia or second-degree or third-degree atrioventricular block.
The 24 month RADIANCE trial similarly showed that ozanimod was well tolerated and associated with a significantly lower rate of clinical relapses than intramuscular interferon beta-1a. And likewise, no cases of ozanimod-related symptomatic reduction in heart rate and no second-degree or third-degree cases of atrioventricular block were reported.
The commentary authors said the newer agent, like siponimid, was a more selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, with its main target of receptor subtype 1, which inhibits lymphocyte trafficking