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Ocrelizumab in Early-Stage Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: The Phase IIIb ENSEMBLE 4-Year, Single-Arm, Open-Label Trial

Hartung HP, Benedict RHB, Berger T, Bermel RA, Brochet B, Carroll WM, Freedman MS, Holmøy T et al.

Neurology, 2024

678 participants · 16 citations

Abstract

Background and objectives: Early treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) reduces disease activity and the risk of long-term disease progression. Effectiveness of ocrelizumab is established in relapsing MS (RMS); however, data in early RMS are lacking. We evaluated the 4-year effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab as a first-line therapy in treatment-naive patients with recently diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Methods: ENSEMBLE was a prospective, 4-year, international, multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase IIIb study. Patients were treatment naive, aged 18-55 years, had early-stage RRMS with a disease duration ≤3 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤3.5, and ≥1 clinically reported relapse(s) or ≥1 signs of brain inflammatory activity on MRI in the prior 12 months. Patients received IV ocrelizumab 600 mg every 24 weeks. Effectiveness endpoints over 192 weeks were proportion of patients with no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3; defined as absence of relapses, 24-week confirmed disability progression [CDP], and MRI measures, with prespecified MRI rebaselining at week 8), 24-week/48-week CDP and 24-week confirmed disability improvement, annualized relapse rate (ARR), mean change in EDSS score from baseline, and safety. Cognitive status, patient-reported outcomes, and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) were assessed. Descriptive analysis was performed on the intention-to-treat population.

Results: Baseline characteristics (N = 678) were…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 678 participants or records.

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