What the trial was testing
The ASCLEPIOS II enrolled 946 patients with multiple sclerosis. The study was sponsored by Novartis 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
About half as many MS relapses per year compared with teriflunomide.
New England Journal of Medicine · 2020 · NCT02792218
These findings — that per year on ofatumumab compared with teriflunomide in relapsing MS — were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 946 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
Ofatumumab (Kesimpta) is FDA-approved for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and available now. It is given as a once-monthly injection at home — no infusion center needed. Most common side effects are injection-site reactions and upper respiratory infections. Ask your neurologist whether it fits your case.
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
A Single-Center Study to Characterize the Safety and Efficacy of Ublituximab in Older Adults With Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis (RMS)
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of ublituximab use in the older MS adult population, as measured by incidence of infection rate
Genetics and Environment iNtersection In the ALS-FTD Spectrum: an Italian Twins Cohort studY With a Multi-Omics Approach
The goal of this study is to learn from discordant twins affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and/or Frontotemporal Dementia the contribution of genetic background versus environmental exposure. The main questions it aims to answer is: * How far does the genetic background explain the onset of ALS/FTD in discordant twins? * Which environmental factors and events occurring in post-fetal life influence the onset or progression of this neurodegenerative condition? Participants with ALS and/or FTD with a monozygotic or dizygotic twin willing to contribute to this research will be followed up for two years by specialized Motor Neuron Disorders centers in Italy, donating biological specimen for -omic sciences analysis, and checking out if prodromal signs/symptoms of these two conditions will develop during time.