Dataset Information

Gastrointestinal Tolerability of Delayed-Release Dimethyl Fumarate in a Multicenter, Open-Label Study of Patients with Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MANAGE).

ABSTRACT:

Background

In phase 3 trials, delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF; also known as gastroresistant DMF) demonstrated efficacy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Gastrointestinal (GI) events were associated with DMF treatment. The single-arm, open-label MANAGE study examined the incidence, severity, duration, and management of GI events in adults with relapsing MS initiating DMF treatment in clinical practice in the United States shortly after marketing approval.

Patients and methods

Patients (N = 233) took DMF for up to 12 weeks and recorded information regarding GI events using an eDiary and numerical rating scales.

Results

Overall, 54.1% of patients used symptomatic therapy and had GI symptoms. The incidence of GI events was highest in the first month of treatment. The duration of GI events varied by event type, and severity was generally mild to moderate. Decreased severity was seen in patients treated with antacids, bismuth subsalicylate, acid-secretion blockers, antidiarrheals, and antiemetics. Less than 10% of patients were using symptomatic therapy for GI events by week 12 of DMF treatment. A modest reduction in severe GI events was observed in patients who regularly took DMF with food compared with patients who did not. The incidence of GI-related events was comparable in patients with or without a history of GI abnormalities and in patients who did or did not use alcohol or tobacco.

Conclusions

Gastrointestinal events associated with DMF are generally transient, mild to moderate in severity, and manageable. Symptomatic therapy and dosing with food may mitigate these events.

SUBMITTER: Fox EJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4766951 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background:Gastrointestinal (GI) events are common adverse events (AEs) associated with delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an approved treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The objective of the TOLERATE study was to evaluate GI tolerability and GI mitigation via symptomatic therapies in patients initiating DMF in a real-world clinical setting in Germany. Methods:TOLERATE was a multicentre, open-label, single-arm study performed at 25 German sites. Endpoints were frequency, severity, duration (all primary) and mitigation of GI-related events (secondary). Patients were instructed to take DMF according to the prescribing information for up to 12 weeks and to document GI events and intake of GI-symptomatic therapy on numerical rating scales, using eDiaries. Results:A total of 211 patients were included in the safety population (71% female; mean age 40 ± 11 years). Of these, 185 patients (87.7%) reported GI-related events, out of which nearly half received GI-symptomatic therapy (84/185; 45.4%). The most frequently reported GI events were upper abdominal pain, flatulence and nausea. GI-related events peaked during the first 3 weeks of therapy and rapidly decreased thereafter. The severity of GI events over 12 weeks according to the Modified Overall Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale were mild to moderate in the majority of patients reporting GI-related events and taking symptomatic GI medication (53.6%). Only 10% of all patients discontinued study treatment due to AEs in general, while 6.6% discontinued due to GI-related events. The severity of GI-related events decreased over time in patients who received symptomatic treatment with one or more medications (e.g. acid secretion blockers, antidiarrhoeals or antiemetics). Conclusion:Gastrointestinal events associated with delayed-release DMF were mainly mild to moderate in severity. Prevalence of GI events peaked during the first 3 weeks of therapy and rapidly faded thereafter. Although 44.9% of patients experiencing GI events used common GI symptomatic therapies, only 6.6% of patients discontinued DMF because of GI events, suggesting that GI events could be managed well with common symptomatic therapy.

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