What the trial was testing
The OPTIMUM enrolled 1,133 patients with multiple sclerosis. The study was sponsored by Actelion and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Ponesimod reduced relapses 30% more effectively than the comparison drug over 2 years.
JAMA neurology · 2021 · NCT02425644
These findings — that ponesimod cut MS relapses significantly more than the comparison drug teriflunomide. — were published in the JAMA neurology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,133 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with multiple sclerosis, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This treatment was more effective at preventing MS relapses than an existing approved pill. It also performed better on MRI measures of disease activity and brain health. The side effect rates were similar between the two drugs, though slightly more people stopped ponesimod due to side effects. Ask your doctor if this trial result means it could be an option for you.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open multiple sclerosis trials
Gait and Balance Impairment in Rare and Very Rare Neurological Diseases
Rare and very rare neurological diseases primarily or exclusively affect the nervous system with a prevalence of \< 5 out of 10'000 and 100'000 people, respectively. Besides these, there are undiagnosed neurological diseases: neurological conditions without a diagnosis after completing a full diagnostic examination. Rare, very rare, and undiagnosed neurological diseases are complicated and progressive and often cause variegated motor signs, impairments, and syndromes. Balance and gait are frequently affected in these conditions, already at the clinical examination. These balance and gait impairments limit activities and cause an increased risk of falling. Falls can eventually result in injuries, even severe. There are only a few studies about these diseases, likely because of their rarity. Hence, the clinical presentation and the course of rare and very rare diseases are poorly known or even unknown. Essential information for these conditions' diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and rehabilitation is missing. MaNeNeND is an observational study underway at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta" (Milano) aimed at detailing the clinical and biological features of very rare and undiagnosed neurological diseases. Research questions: 1. Do patients with rare (Ra), very rare (V) and undiagnosed (U) neurological diseases suffer a balance and gait impairment? 2. Is there a correlation between the clinical and instrumental severity of the balance and gait impairment in RaVU neurological diseases? 3. Are instrumental measures more sensitive in detecting balance and gait impairments in patients affected by a RaVU neurological disease than the clinical measures? 4. Do the balance and gait impairments in RaVU neurological diseases worsen in time? The current project aims at diagnosing, quantifying and detailing the balance and gait impairment in rare, very rare and undiagnosed neurological diseases. To this aim, questionnaires, clinical scales and instrumental tests will be administered to these patients to collect a wide range of balance and gait measures. These measures will also integrate those collected with MaNeNeND to provide a more detailed description of patients with rare, very rare and diagnosed neurological diseases. Participants will complete two questionnaires: the Dizziness Handicap Inventory - short form (DHI-sf, an ordinal score of self-perceived balance) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS, an ordinal score of self-perceived fatigue). Moreover, a clinician will administer the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest, an ordinal score of balance), the 10 m walking test (for measuring the gait speed and other gait parameters) and the Timed Up and Go test (an instrumental measure of mobility and balance). Walking and the Timed Up and Go tests will be recorded with a trunk-worn inertial measurement unit. Finally, participants will be asked to complete an instrumental upright stance and gait assessment, the first consisting of standing on posturographic plates and the second of walking on a treadmill equipped with force sensors. When walking on the treadmill, an optoelectronic system will also record the position in time of limbs and trunk. The quantification of the severity of the balance and gait impairment of the patients suffering a rare, very rare or undiagnosed neurological disease will highlight these persons' therapeutic and rehabilitative needs. Comparing the balance and gait impairment of rare, very rare and undiagnosed diseases with those of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and peripheral neuropathy will highlight if the formers' balance and gait impairment has unique characteristics that could help ease the diagnosis of these uncommon conditions. The longitudinal measurements on rare, very rare and undiagnosed diseases will be paramount to identifying prognostic factors. In addition, the data collected in the current study will be crucial for future studies, for example, for estimating the sample size in clinical trials.
A Phase 2a Study of SUN-627 in Participants With Non-Active Secondary Progressive and Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS/PPMS)
The goal of this Phase 2 clinical trial is to investigate the safety and tolerability of SUN-627 in men and women aged 18-70 years old with a diagnosis of non-active SPMS/PPMS.