Annualized relapse rate of first-line treatments for multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis, including indirect comparisons versus fingolimod

Abstract

Our study demonstrated that fingolimod significantly reduces relapse frequency in patients with RRMS compared with current first-line disease-modifying therapies.

Author’s Response to Letter to the Editor

“…In our analysis, we have used treatment and study as classification variables putting a random effect on treatment. The distribution is conditional on random treatment effect [7][8][9] and is in line with Lu and Ades 10 . A comprehensive description of model and statements was out of scope of the publication.…”

“…Since PROC GLIMMIX is a well established and widely used method under generalized linear models 7,8 , the explanation provided in the manuscript can be considered appropriate and sufficient within the scope of the research question. However, we can answer specific questions around the model on requests.…”

Therapeutic approaches to disease modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis in adults: An Australian and New Zealand perspective Part 2 New and emerging therapies and their efficacy

“…These compare favourably, to within a 10% range, which is adequate for approximate comparisons. More formal attempts to compare trials using network meta-analysis and similar approaches have shown conflicting results [65][66][67][68]. What is striking in the comparison shown in Table 1 is the high degree of concordance between the observed effect on Gad-enhancing lesions and relapse rates and between measures of brain atrophy and disability progression in what is a very consistent pattern across therapies.…”

Comparative effectiveness of delayed-release dimethyl fumarate versus glatiramer acetate in multiple sclerosis patients: results of a matching-adjusted indirect comparison

“…Roskell et al performed an indirect comparison of ARR using mixed treatment comparison framework for fingolimod versus GA, IFN β-1b and IFN β-1a [39]. Fingolimod significantly reduced relapse frequency compared with injectable first-line DMTs.…”