What the trial was testing
The ANTELOPE enrolled 265 patients with multiple sclerosis. The study was sponsored by Polpharma Biologics S.A. 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
The biosimilar matched the original drug in reducing new brain lesions and was just as safe.
JAMA neurology · 2023 · NCT04115488
These findings — that the biosimilar and original drug caused nearly the same number of new brain lesions — were published in the JAMA neurology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 265 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 biosimilar is not yet FDA-approved in the United States, though the original natalizumab (Tysabri) is approved for relapsing forms of MS. If you're on Tysabri or considering natalizumab, talk to your doctor about whether a biosimilar option might become available and what it could mean for your treatment costs.
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
Interest of a Musical Intervention on Stress Induced During Botulinum Toxin Injections in Spasticity (MUSIBOT)
Botulinum toxin (BT) injections are a painful treatment frequently used to treat spasticity following central neurological damage (stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, head trauma). Tolerance of injections varies from patient to patient. For most patients, the pain experienced during the injection is a major source of stress. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the role of music therapy in pain management. Music therapy uses a "U" shaped technique, allowing the patient to relax in different phases. This system has demonstrated beneficial effects on pain and anxiety in various fields, such as chronic and acute pain, Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia and neurological pain. Given the painful nature of spasticity and anxiety treatment, we aim to use a musical intervention to help patients cope better with injections. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the effect of exposure to a musical intervention session during botulinum toxin injections, on injection-induced stress (heart rate variability). Secondary objectives: To study the effect of exposure to a musical intervention session during botulinum toxin injections, during the visit to injections #1, in terms of: * Injection-induced stress for HRV parameters other than LF/HF * Injection-induced pain * Injection anxiety * Patient satisfaction * Effect of musical intervention on the medical procedure performed (botulinum toxin injections) expressed by the doctor at the end of the session. To study the effect of exposure to a musical intervention session, during injections visit n°2, in order to evaluate the effect of repeated exposure to a musical intervention session, in terms of : * Injection-induced stress for HRV parameters other than LF/HF * Injection-induced pain * Injection anxiety * Patient satisfaction * Effect of musical intervention on the medical procedure performed (botulinum toxin injections) expressed by the physician at the end of the session. The hypothesis of this research is that a responsive musical intervention can, in adults, reduce the stress induced by botulinum toxin injections. Patients will be selected from the cohort of patients regularly treated for botulinum toxin injections in the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) department at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital. Botulinum toxin injections will take place in the PRM department. Each patient will participate in the study for a maximum of 4 months. This study will be carried out in patients receiving regular botulinum toxin injections to treat spasticity. The first injection will be given with (IM-IM) or without musical intervention (CT-IM), depending on the randomization group, followed by the next injection with musical intervention. Patients will be able to choose the style of music (Jazz, Classical, Electronic, R\&B, Ambient, Rock, etc.) that appeals to them in order to benefit from a minimum 20-minute session of musical intervention (duration varying according to the number of injections to be performed).
HOBSCOTCH-MS-Efficacy Trial
The purpose of this study is to assess the ability of the home-based intervention, HOBSCOTCH-MS to improve the quality of life and cognitive function in Service Members, Veterans and civilians who have multiple sclerosis with cognitive and memory problems (MS participants). This study will also assess the ability of the HOBSCOTCH-MS program to improve quality of life in caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis and to reduce caregiver burden. Enrolling with a Caregiver is optional for MS participants. Investigators will compare two groups of MS participants and their Caregiver (enrolling with a Caregiver is optional): one who receives HOBSCOTCH-MS immediately (Group 1) and another group that will receive HOBSCOTCH-MS (Group 2) after a 3-month waiting period. Participants will be in the study for about 6 months total. HOBSCOTCH-MS involves 45 to 60 minute one on one virtual sessions with a certified Cognitive Coach including a "pre" program session and 8 weekly sessions thereafter. Participants will learn about problem solving therapy and mindfulness or relaxation training. MS participants are asked to do short homework assignments and both MS and Caregiver participants are asked to keep a brief daily diary on a smart phone app. All participants complete study questionnaires or surveys at enrollment, 3 months later and at 6 months (at the end of the study). After completing the intervention, MS Participants and their Caregivers may also participate in an optional one-time Key Informant Interview for qualitative analysis in an effort to further adapt and improve the HOBSCOTCH-MS in the future.