Real-world data show diroximel fumarate well-tolerated, beneficial for MS patients
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Patients with MS who took diroximel fumarate reported physical benefits, including slowed disease progression and decreased relapses, according to data presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting.
“Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is a next-generation oral fumarate approved in the United States and Europe for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis,” Meghan Garabedian, CRNP, a nurse practitioner at the University of Pennsylvania Neuroscience Center, and colleagues wrote in a poster. “DRF has the same pharmacologically active metabolite as dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and has a similar efficacy and safety profile.”
Garabedian and fellow researchers sought to evaluate MS patient-reported outcomes for those currently taking Vumerity (diroximel fumarate, Biogen), including benefits, tolerability and mitigation strategies. They also assessed awareness, interest and barriers to considering diroximel fumarate as treatment.
In January 2022, researchers conducted an anonymous online survey of users of MyMSTeam, a social network of nearly 180,000 United States residents, aged 21 years and older, who are diagnosed with MS. Survey questions covered demographics, disease and disease-modifying therapy history, and self-assessments regarding physical function, emotional health and drug tolerability.
Among 452 people surveyed, 36 were receiving DRF, 77 were receiving DMF, 122 had previously received DMF and 82 were receiving other (non-DMF/DRF) oral disease-modifying therapies, according to study results. The most common reasons for initiating DRF were recommendation of health care provider (75%) and preference for an oral treatment (44%).
Of patients on DRF, 69% reported physical benefits despite an average treatment duration of less than 1 year, including slowed disease progression (42%), decreased relapses (31%) and prevention of new symptoms (28%). Further, 83% of patients on DRF reported that adverse effects were somewhat to very tolerable.
Among current DMF users, 32% expressed interest in DRF, and considerations to switch included whether their insurance plan covers it (55%), whether their current DMT stops working (45%) and whether their health care provider encourages them to switch (43%).
“Early real-world patient reported data suggest that DRF is well-tolerated, and the majority of DRF patients reported experiencing physical benefits,” Garabedian and colleagues wrote.