Ozanimod Efficacy Evaluated for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Two recent clinical trials evaluated the efficacy of the drug ozanimod, an investigational oral selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)-1 and -5 receptor modulator that treats patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).

Celgene’s phase III SUNBEAM trial

, which tested the efficacy and safety of ozanimod, met the primary end point for reducing the annualized relapse rate (ARR) compared with weekly interferon (IFN) β-1a (Avonex).

The SUNBEAM trial consisted of 1346 patients with relapsing MS who received 2 orally administered treatment doses (0.5 mg and 1 mg) for at least 1 year. Both doses of the treatment were found to have statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements compared with interferon for reducing the ARR and the measured secondary end points of the number of gadolinium-enhancing MRI lesions and the number of new or enlarging T2 MRI lesions at the last month, according to the research.

“The safety and efficacy results from SUNBEAM are consistent with the long-term results from the phase II trial (RADIANCE). These data add to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of ozanimod as a disease modifying therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis,” said Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology, University of California San Francisco, in a press release.

“We look forward to the continued study of ozanimod as well as presentation of the full results of the phase III trial at an upcoming international scientific meeting.”

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