Ofatumumab in MS: Is Efficacy Maintained After Switch From IV Anti-CD20 Therapy?

During the transition from intravenous (IV) rituximab or ocrelizumab treatment to subcutaneous ofatumumab, the efficacy for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) is maintained regardless of race/ethnicity, according to study results presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2025, held in West Palm Beach, Florida from February 27 to March 1.

Race and ethnicity may affect efficacy outcomes among patients with relapsing MS who transition from IV anti-CD20 therapies to ofatumumab, however, diverse populations are underrepresented in clinical trials.

This study is a post hoc analysis of data from the OLIKOS (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04486716) trial, where researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of ofatumumab after transitioning from other anti-CD20 therapies. Patients (N=102) aged 18 to 60 years with RMS who received 2 or more IV anti-CD20 courses and switched to standard induction and monthly maintenance of 20 mg ofatumumab, due to reasons other than safety or lack of efficacy, were recruited for this study.

The primary outcome was no change or a reduction in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected gadolinium-enhancing (GdE) T1 lesions from baseline to month 12.

The study population (mean age, 41.4-44.6 years; women, 53.3%-85.4%) identified as the following:

• White, 47.1%
• Hispanic, 29.4%
• Black, 19.6%
• Other race, 3.9%

At baseline, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores tended to be higher among Hispanic (median, 3.25) and Black (median, 3.0) patients compared with White patients (median, 2.5).

At 12 months, 81 patients had available magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. All patients met the primary endpoint of stable or reduced GdE T1 lesions from baseline.

New or enlarging T2 (neT2) lesions were observed among 4.9% at 6 months and 2.0% at 12 months. The lesions at 6 months occurred among 3 Hispanic, 1 Black, and 1 White patient(s) and at 12 months among 1 Hispanic and 1 White patients.

Average immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels remained within the normal ranges from baseline to month 12 across racial and ethnic groups.

Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 91.7% of White, 90% of Black, and 70% of Hispanic patients. The most common TEAEs across subgroups were COVID-19 (30.4%), headache (13.7%), and fatigue (11.8%).

“[Ofatumumab] 20 mg [subcutaneous] maintained efficacy in [patients] with RMS transitioning from IV anti-CD20 therapies regardless of race/ethnicity, as demonstrated by no new GdE T1 lesions across all subgroups,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: This research was supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures