Reader response: Comprehensive systematic review summary: DMT for adults with MS
Katherine R.Tran, Medical Science Director, Genentech, Inc.
Submitted December 12, 2018
Genentech recognizes that high quality and trustworthy guidelines, such as those published by the American Academy of Neurology, are important both for providers to optimize patient care, and for payers to manage appropriate utilization of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments. We appreciate the opportunity to provide the following corrections to inform accurate recommendations for health care decision makers.
The Comprehensive Systematic Review Summary omits key information regarding ocrelizumab in figure 1 and figure 3.1 Figure 1 lists disease modifying therapies (DMT) by annualized relapse rate (ARR) reductions from highest to lowest; figure 3 lists DMT by relative risk of in-study disability progression at 2 years. The figures do not include a footnote indicating that the ARR and disability progression for ocrelizumab are relative to subcutaneous interferon-β-1a 44 µg 3 times weekly, although there is such a note included for alemtuzumab.
The efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab compared with subcutaneous interferon-β-1a 44 µg 3 times weekly in RMS was evaluated in 2 identical, phase 3, randomized (1:1), double-blind, double-dummy, head-to-head comparative trials.2,3 Readers may infer indirect treatment comparisons using these figures, and the omission of this fundamental detail misrepresents the relative efficacy of MS DMTs.
Disclosure
KRT is employed by Genentech, Inc.
References
Rae-Grant A, Day GS, Marrie RA, et al. Comprehensive systematic review summary: Disease-modifying therapies for adults with multiple sclerosis: Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 2018;90:789–800.
Hauser SL, Bar-Or A, Comi G, et al. Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. N Engl J Med 2017;376:221–234.
Genentech, Inc. Highlights of prescribing information: Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) injection, for intravenous use: full prescribing information. Available at: https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/ocrevus_prescribing.pdf. Accessed: December 12, 2018.
Genentech recognizes that high quality and trustworthy guidelines, such as those published by the American Academy of Neurology, are important both for providers to optimize patient care, and for payers to manage appropriate utilization of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments. We appreciate the opportunity to provide the following corrections to inform accurate recommendations for health care decision makers.
The Comprehensive Systematic Review Summary omits key information regarding ocrelizumab in figure 1 and figure 3.1 Figure 1 lists disease modifying therapies (DMT) by annualized relapse rate (ARR) reductions from highest to lowest; figure 3 lists DMT by relative risk of in-study disability progression at 2 years. The figures do not include a footnote indicating that the ARR and disability progression for ocrelizumab are relative to subcutaneous interferon-β-1a 44 µg 3 times weekly, although there is such a note included for alemtuzumab.
The efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab compared with subcutaneous interferon-β-1a 44 µg 3 times weekly in RMS was evaluated in 2 identical, phase 3, randomized (1:1), double-blind, double-dummy, head-to-head comparative trials.2,3 Readers may infer indirect treatment comparisons using these figures, and the omission of this fundamental detail misrepresents the relative efficacy of MS DMTs.
Disclosure
KRT is employed by Genentech, Inc.
References
Footnotes
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.