OBJECTIVES :

Prior research in Multiple Sclerosis has shown strong persistence to oral Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMT’s) compared with injectables, with medication possession ratios >85%.¹ This study explores utilization patterns of DMT’s between the United States and Europe, including usage of oral versus injectable DMT’s and patient persistence to treatment.

METHODS:

This study was conducted in a US nationally representative commercial insurance claims dataset, and outpatient electronic medical record (EMR) sources from 2 European countries, for the most recent 36 months of available data. Data was converted into the OMOP Common Data Model v5, and analyses conducted using the SHYFT Quantum V6.7.0 solution. Baseline characteristics and treatment patterns of oral, injectable and combination regimens were characterized, including role of prescribing physician specialty. Persistence was measured as medication possession ration (MPR) and 12-month proportion of days covered (PDC). General linear models were used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics. Using a claims-based algorithm developed by Le HV et al, results were also stratified according to possible presence of progressive disease.²

RESULTS:

Although treatment patterns vary between the US and Europe, real-world treatment persistence is relatively high for both oral and injectable treatments. When stratified for possible presence of progressive disease, although sample size was limited, results were directionally consistent.

CONCLUSIONS:

Oral DMT’s continue to demonstrate high levels of persistence and increasing use in real world settings. Possible next steps include further explore use by Relapsing-Remitting versus Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis