Safety and efficacy of siponimod (BAF312) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis dose-blinded, randomized extension of the phase 2BOLDStudy

IMPORTANCE This dose-blinded extension of the phase 2 BOLD (BAF312 on MRI Lesion Given Once Daily) Study in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis provides evidence on disease activity and safety of a range of siponimod doses for up to 24 months. OBJECTIVE To assess the safety and efficacy of siponimod for up to 24 months during the dose-blinded extension of the BOLD Study. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS At extension baseline in a randomized clinical trial, patients taking siponimod continued at the originally assigned dose and patients taking placebo were rerandomized to the 5 siponimod doses. Initial treatment was titrated over 10 days. A total of 252 eligible patients were treated at specialized multiple sclerosis centers for this study conducted from August 30, 2010, through June 3, 2013. INTERVENTIONS Siponimod at 10-mg, 2-mg, 1.25-mg, 0.5-mg, and 0.25-mg doses. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Safety assessment included blood tests, documentation of adverse events at regular scheduled visits and Holter monitoring; key efficacy measures were annualized relapse rate and magnetic resonance imaging lesion activity. RESULTS Among the 252 eligible patients, the mean (SD) ages were 37.2 (8.4) years, 35.2 (9.1) years, 34.0 (7.6) years, 35.1 (9.2) years, and 36.8 (9.1) years in the 0.25-mg, 0.5-mg, 1.25-mg, 2-mg, and 10-mg groups. Of the 252 patients, 184 (73%) entered the extension and received siponimod (10mg: n = 33; 2mg: n = 29; 1.25mg: n = 43; 0.5mg: n = 29; and 0.25mg: n = 50); 159 (86.4%) completed the dose-blinded extension. The incidence of adverse events was similar across treatment groups (10mg: 87.9%; 2mg: 89.7%; 1.25mg: 88.4%; 0.5mg: 96.6%; and 0.25mg: 84.0%). Nine patients reported serious adverse events (2mg: 3/29 [10.3%], 1.25mg: 1/43 [2.3%], 0.5mg: 4/29 [13.8%], and 0.25mg: 1/50 [2.0%]; no serious adverse event was reported for more than 1 patient and no new safety signals occurred compared with the BOLD Study. Dose titration mitigated symptomatic bradycardic events. Reductions in mean (95%CI) gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesion counts from the last BOLD assessment were sustained in the 10-mg, 2-mg, 1.25-mg, and 0.5-mg dose groups (0 [0-0], 0.1 [0-1.9], 0.1 [0-2.6], and 0.1 [0-2.8] at month 24, respectively). At the 3 highest vs 2 lowest doses, the estimated new/newly enlarging T2 lesion counts (95%CIs) were lower during months 6 to 12 (0.5 [0.2-1.3], 0.4 [0.2-1.1], and 0.2 [0.1-0.6] vs 1.3 [0.6-2.8] and 1.4 [0.7-2.7]), months 12 to 18 (0.4 [0.1-1.1], 0.4 [0.1-1.3], and 0.4 [0.2-1.0] vs 1.0 [0.4-2.6] and 3.6 [1.7-7.6]), and months 18 to 24 (0 [0-not estimable], 0.9 [0.1-7.6], and 0.1 [0-1.7] vs 1.6 [0.3-7.7] and 2.0 [0.4-9.5]). Annualized relapse rates (95%CIs) up to month 24 were similarly lower for the 3 highest doses: 0.22 (0.12-0.40) for 10mg, 0.20 (0.10-0.38) for 2mg, and 0.14 (0.08-0.26) for 1.25mg vs 0.33 (0.19-0.56) for 0.5mg and 0.33 (0.21-0.50) for 0.25mg. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE For up to 24 months of siponimod treatment, multiple sclerosis disease activity was low and there were no new safety signals; investigation in phase 3 trials is encouraged.