Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, is set to present new data on their drugs Ultomiris and Soliris for the treatment of anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at the upcoming MSMilan2023 conference. The conference, jointly organized by the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS), will take place from October 11 to 13, 2023.
The data to be presented by Alexion will provide further evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of Ultomiris and Soliris in treating NMOSD. This is a significant step towards redefining the care for individuals living with this rare neurological disease.
One of the presentations will focus on safety findings for patients with AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD who switched from rituximab to C5 inhibitor therapy in the Phase III CHAMPION-NMOSD and PREVENT clinical trials. The analysis will demonstrate that there were no differences in safety outcomes among patients who had previously used rituximab before starting treatment with Ultomiris or Soliris. This information will be valuable for clinicians considering a switch of medication from rituximab to C5 inhibitor therapy.
Furthermore, there will be a presentation of three-year post-marketing surveillance data of Soliris among Japanese patients. These findings will highlight that the real-world safety and efficacy of Soliris in treating Japanese patients with AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD are consistent with the results from the Phase III PREVENT trial. The data will also show a decrease in the use of concomitant immunosuppressive therapy over time among patients treated with Soliris, demonstrating its potential to reduce the burden of additional treatments for patients.
Additional poster presentations will cover long-term safety data in patients treated with Ultomiris and Soliris across various indications, with a focus on meningococcal infection rates. The results will show that the rates of meningococcal infection and infection-related mortality remained stable, even as the number of patients treated with the drugs increased over time. The data will highlight the comparable rates between Ultomiris and Soliris-treated patients.
These presentations by Alexion at MSMilan2023 highlight the promise of C5 inhibition in treating NMOSD and provide valuable insights for clinical decision-making and care. The company is committed to advancing the understanding of this rare neurological disease and the role of their medicines in preventing debilitating relapses.
The data to be presented at the conference will contribute to the body of knowledge on NMOSD treatment and provide evidence for the safety and efficacy of Ultomiris and Soliris. This will potentially lead to improved treatment options and outcomes for individuals with this rare disease.
