Uplizna reduced subclinical optic nerve lesions in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Horizon Therapeutics recently announced new MRI imaging data from a phase 3 clinical trial, which demonstrated that Uplizna reduced formation of asymptomatic optic nerve lesions in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

According to a company release, Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon, Horizon) is the first and only B-cell depleting monotherapy approved by the FDA, European Commission and Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in adults who are anti-aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G seropositive (AQP4-IgG+).

Nearly 80% of individuals diagnosed with NMOSD test positive for anti-AQP4 antibodies, which bind to astrocytes in the central nervous system and trigger an immune response, resulting in lesion formation and astrocyte death, the company stated.

According to the release, the N-MOmentum trial used MRI imaging on the spinal cord, optic nerve and brain, which demonstrated Uplizna’s ability to reduce risk of NMOSD-associated attacks. Imaging was captured at baseline, during an attack, at the end of the randomized controlled period and annually during the open-label part of the trial.

“The use of MRI in the phase 3 clinical trial has enabled us to better quantify not only the most visible effects of NMOSD attacks, but also changes in disease patterns at the subclinical level that may compound over time,” Kristina Patterson, MD, PhD, medical director of neuroimmunology at Horizon, said in the release. “These data help deepen our understanding of the real biological impact of this medicine not just on the attacks, but also on asymptomatic activity.”

Horizon presented the trial findings at the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society meeting in Orlando, Florida, in March.