New daily pill could rival infusion for slowing progressive MS
NCT ID NCT04544449
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This phase 3 trial compares two drugs for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a form of MS that steadily worsens. About 985 adults with PPMS will receive either daily oral fenebrutinib or intravenous ocrelizumab (plus matching placebos) to see which better delays disability progression. The study is double-blind, meaning neither participants nor doctors know who gets which drug.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- fenebrutinib (an oral drug) and ocrelizumab (an intravenous drug)
- What this could lead to
- If fenebrutinib works as well as or better than ocrelizumab, it could offer a more convenient daily pill option to slow disability progression in primary progressive MS.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage comparison; fenebrutinib may not prove superior or even equal to ocrelizumab. Side effects and long-term risks are still being studied.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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985 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2020
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * For sites in Germany and Italy only, enrollment is restricted to participants aged 46-65 years * A diagnosis of PPMS in accordance to the revised 2017 McDonald Criteria (Thompson et al. 2018). * Disability progression in the 12 months prior to screening. * Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score from 3.0 to 6.5 inclusive at screening. * Pyramidal functional subscore \>=2 at screening. * For participants currently receiving proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs), symptomatic treatment for MS (e.g. fampridine, cannabis) and/or physiotherapy: treatment at a stable dose during the screening period prior to the initiation of study treatment and plans to remain at a stable dose for the duration of study treatment. * Neurologically stable for at least 30 days prior to randomization and baseline assessments. * Ability to complete the 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) for each hand in \<240 seconds. * Ability to perform Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (T25FWT) in \<150 seconds. * For female participants of childbearing potential: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive measures, and refrain from donating eggs. * For male participants: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive measures, and refrain from donating sperm. OLE Inclusion Criteria: * Completed the Double-Blind Treatment (DBT) phase of the study (remaining on study treatment; no other Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT) administered) and who, in the opinion of the investigator, may benefit from treatment with fenebrutinib. * For female participants of childbearing potential: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive measures, and refrain from donating eggs. * For male participants: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive measures, and refrain from donating sperm. Exclusion Criteria: * For participants enrolled in Germany and in Italy only: Presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions on T1-weighted MRI (T1Gd +) lesion on the screening MRI * Any known or suspected active infection (excluding onychomycosis) at screening, including but not limited to a positive screening test for Hepatitis B and C, an active or latent or inadequately treated infection with tuberculosis (TB), a confirmed or suspected progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). * Participants with a previous history of a serious Infusion-Related Reaction (IRR) (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] Grade \>= 4) and/or any hypersensitivity reaction to ocrelizumab. * History of cancer including hematologic malignancy and solid tumors within 10 years of screening. Exceptions: Basal/squamous cell carcinoma of skin cured by excision. In situ carcinoma of the cervix successfully treated by curative therapy \>1 year prior to screening. * Known presence of other neurological disorders, that could interfere with the diagnosis of MS or assessments of efficacy or safety during the study, clinically significant cardiovascular, psychiatric, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, endocrine, metabolic or gastrointestinal disease. * Presence of cirrhosis (Child-Pugh Class A, B, or C) * Chronic liver disease unless considered stable for \>6 months * Acute liver disease * Any concomitant disease that may require chronic treatment with systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or specific medication that could impact the primary evaluation of the study. * History of alcohol or other drug abuse within 12 months prior to screening. * Female participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding or intending to become pregnant during the study or 6 or 12 months (as applicable from the local label for ocrelizumab) after final dose of study drug. * Male participants intending to father a child during the study or for 28 days after final dose of study drug. * Lack of peripheral venous access. * Any previous treatment with immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive medication without an appropriate washout period. * Receipt of a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 6 weeks prior to randomization. * Immunocompromised state, history of primary or secondary (non-drug related) immunodeficiency, or history of transplantation or antirejection therapy * Known bleeding diathesis, anemia, or history of hospitalization or transfusion for gastrointestinal (GI) bleed * Any previous treatment with cladribine, mitoxantrone, daclizumab, alemtuzumab, or cyclophosphamide OLE Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic liver disease unless considered stable for \> 6 months * Acute liver disease * Cirrhosis (Child-pugh Class A, B or C) * Gilbert's syndrome
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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"Neurofocus" LLC
Lviv, 79029, Ukraine
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401 Military Hospital of Athens
Athens, 11525, Greece
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A.O.U. di Parma
Parma, Emilia-Romagna, 43126, Italy
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A.R.N.A.S. Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli
Palermo, Sicily, 90127, Italy
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AHEPA Univ. General Hospital of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki, 54636, Greece
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AOU Seconda Università degli Studi
Naples, Campania, 80138, Italy
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Aarhus Universitetshospital
Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark
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Alabama Neurology Associates
Homewood, Alabama, 35209, United States
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Ams of Ukraine
Kharkiv, Kharkiv Governorate, 61068, Ukraine
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Atrium Health Neurosciences Institute ? Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina, 28204, United States
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Austin Hospital
Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
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Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
Livingston, New Jersey, 07039, United States
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Baskent Universitesi Ankara Hastanesi
Çankaya, 06490, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Box Hill Hospital
Box Hill, Victoria, 3128, Australia
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Brain and Mind Research Institute
Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia
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Budapesti Jahn Ferenc Dél-pesti Kórház és Rendel?intézet
Budapest, 1204, Hungary
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CHRU de Montpellier, Hopital Gui de Chauliac
Montpellier, 34295, France
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CNPE City Clinical Hospital #3 of Chernivtsi City Council
Chernivtsi, Chernihiv Governorate, 58022, Ukraine
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Care Clinic
Katowice, 40-568, Poland
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CeCim Biocinetic
Santiago, 8331143, Chile
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Center of Cardiology and Neurology
Kirov, 610007, Russia
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Centro de Especialidades Neurológicas y Rehabilitación - CENyR
Buenos Aires, C1424, Argentina
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Centro de Investigaciones Médicas Tucuman
San Miguel, T4000AXL, Argentina
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Centro de Pesquisas Clinicas
São Paulo, São Paulo, 01228-200, Brazil
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Centrum Medyczne "MEDYK"
Rzeszów, 35-055, Poland
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Centrum Medyczne NeuroProtect
Warsaw, 01-684, Poland
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Centrum Neurologii Krzysztof Selmaj
Lodz, 90-324, Poland
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Charing Cross Hospital
London, W6 8RF, United Kingdom
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Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin
Berlin, 10117, Germany
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City Clinical Hospital #24
Moskva, Moscow Oblast, 127015, Russia
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City Hospital #40 of Resort Administrative District
Saint Petersburg, Sankt-Peterburg, 197706, Russia
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Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89106, United States
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Clinexpert Kft.
Budapest, 1033, Hungary
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Clinica Alemana
Vitacura, 0, Chile
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Clinica Internacional
Lima, 15001, Peru
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Clinica Neurologica
Joinville, Santa Catarina, 89202-190, Brazil
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Clinical Research Institute
Tialnepantla, Mexico, 54055, Mexico
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Clinique NeuroOutaouais
Gatineau, Quebec, J8Y 1W2, Canada
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Clinstile S.A de C.V.
Mexico City, Mexico CITY (federal District), 06700, Mexico
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Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC)
A Coruña, LA Coruna, 15006, Spain
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Dent Neurological Institute
Amherst, New York, 14226, United States
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Deutsche Klinik für Diagnostik
Wiesbaden, 65191, Germany
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Dragonfly Research, LLC
Wellesley, Massachusetts, 02481, United States
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Evergreen MS Center
Kirkland, Washington, 98034, United States
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FSBHI Siberian Clinical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency
Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, 660037, Russia
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Federal center of brain research and neurotechnologies
Moskva, Moscow Oblast, 117997, Russia
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Focus CECIC
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Fraser Health Authority - Fraser Health Multiple Sclerosis
Burnaby, British Columbia, V5G 2X6, Canada
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Freire Pesquisa Clinica
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30150-320, Brazil
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Fullerton Neurology and Headache Center
Fullerton, California, 92835, United States
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Fundacion Clinica Valle del Lili
Cali, Colombia
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Fundacion Rosarina de Neurorehabilitacion
Rosario, 2000, Argentina
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Georgetown University Medical Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20007, United States
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Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin
Bordeaux, 33076, France
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Grupo Médico Camino S.C.
México, Mexico CITY (federal District), 03600, Mexico
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Hacettepe University Medical Faculty
Ankara, 06100, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Hackensack U Med Ctr
Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States
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Holy Name Hospital
Teaneck, New Jersey, 07666, United States
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Hope Neurology
Knoxville, Tennessee, 37922, United States
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Hopital Guillaume Et Rene Laennec
Nantes, 44805, France
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Hopital Pierre Wertheimer
Bron, 69677, France
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Hopitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg
Strasbourg, 67091, France
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Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro
Vigo, Pontevedra, 36213, Spain
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Hospital Eginition
Athens, 115 28, Greece
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Hospital Geral de Santo Antonio
Porto, 4099-001, Portugal
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Hospital IV Alberto Sabogal Sologuren
Bellavista, Callao 2, Peru
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Hospital Juarez de Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico CITY (federal District), 07760, Mexico
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Hospital Puerta del Mar
Cadiz, 11009, Spain
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Hospital Quiron de Madrid
Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, 28223, Spain
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Hospital Ramon y Cajal
Madrid, 28034, Spain
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Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga ? Hospital General
Málaga, 29010, Spain
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Hospital Santo Antonio dos Capuchos
Lisbon, 1169-050, Portugal
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Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida
Lleida, Lerida, 25198, Spain
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Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona, 08035, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Gaffree e Guinle
Rio de Janeiro, 20270-004, Brazil
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Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena
Seville, 41009, Spain
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Hospital de Santa Maria
Lisbon, 1649-035, Portugal
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Hospital de Sao Joao
Porto, 4200-319, Portugal
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Hôpital Pasteur
Nice, 06002, France
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IMV Pesquisa Neurológica
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90620-130, Brazil
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IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Neuromed
Pozzilli, Molise, 86077, Italy
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IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele
Milan, Lombardy, 20132, Italy
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Inselspital Bern Medizin Neurologie
Bern, 3010, Switzerland
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Instituto De Neurología Cognitiva - INECO
Capital Federal, 000C1021, Argentina
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Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas - Hospital Mogrovejo
Lima, Lima 01, Peru
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Instituto Neurologico de Colombia INDEC
Medellín, Colombia
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Instituto Reumatológico Strusberg
Córdoba, X5000EDC, Argentina
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Instituto de Neurologia de Curitiba
Curitiba, Paraná, 81210-310, Brazil
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Irccs A.O.U.San Martino Ist
Genoa, Liguria, 16132, Italy
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Istanbul Universitesi - Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi
Istanbul, 34098, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Jersey Shore University Medical Centre
Neptune City, New Jersey, 07753, United States
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John Hunter Hospital
New Lambton, New South Wales, 2305, Australia
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Johns Hopkins University School Of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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Josephson Wallack Munshower Neurology PC
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46256, United States
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Karadeniz Tecnical Uni. Med. Fac.
Trabzon, 61080, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Kepler Universitätsklinikum GmbH - Neuromed Campus
Linz, 4020, Austria
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Klinikum rechts der Isar der TU Muenchen
München, 81675, Germany
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Kocaeli University Hospital
Kocaeli, 41380, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Krasnoyarsk State Medical Academy
Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, 660022, Russia
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Liverpool Hospital
Liverpool, New South Wales, 2170, Australia
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London Health Sciences Centre Uni Campus
London, Ontario, N6A 5A5, Canada
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Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital
Lviv, KIEV Governorate, 79010, Ukraine
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MEDBUD
Kyiv, KIEV Governorate, 03037, Ukraine
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Markhot Ferenc Oktatokorhaz és Rendelointezet
Eger, 3300, Hungary
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Med Polonia
Późna, 60-693, Poland
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Medical Centre of PE First Private Clinic
Zhytomyr, Crimean Regional Governmenta, 10008, Ukraine
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Medical Clinical Research Center of Medical Center LLC Health Clinic
Vinnytsia, 21009, Ukraine
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Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226-3596, United States
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Medizinische Universität Wien
Vienna, 1090, Austria
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Mersin University Medical Faculty
Mersin, 33079, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Mexico Centre for Clinical Research
Mexico City, Mexico CITY (federal District), 03100, Mexico
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Miami Valley Hospital South
Centerville, Ohio, 45459, United States
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Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology
Golden Valley, Minnesota, 55422, United States
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Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada
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Morriston Hospital
Swansea, SA6 6NL, United Kingdom
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Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment of Neurology and Psychiatry Sv. Naum EAD
Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria
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Municipal Institution Zaporizhzhia Regional Clinical Hospital of Zaporizhzhia Regional Council
Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv Governorate, 69600, Ukraine
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NEURO-CARE Sp. z o.o. Sp. Komandytowa
Katowice, 40-749, Poland
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National Center of Social Significant Disease
Saint Petersburg, Sankt-Peterburg, 197110, Russia
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Neurocentrum Bydgoszcz sp. z o.o
Bydgoszcz, 85-796, Poland
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Neurological Services of Orlando
Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
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Neurology Associates PA
Maitland, Florida, 32751, United States
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Neurology Clinic PC
Cordova, Tennessee, 38018, United States
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Nmedis sp. z o.o.
Rzeszów, 35-323, Poland
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Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
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Núcleo de Pesquisa do Rio Grande do Sul
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90430-001, Brazil
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Odesa Regional Clinical Hospital
Odesa, 65117, Ukraine
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OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, 43214, United States
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Ondokuz Mayis Univ. Med. Fac.
Samsun, 55139, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Organizacion Sanitas Internacional
Bogotá, Colombia
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Ospedale Civile di Montichiari
Montichiari, Lombardy, 25018, Italy
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Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Center
Sunnyvale, California, 94086, United States
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Pest Megyei Flor Ferenc Korhaz
Kistarcsa, 2143, Hungary
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Policlinico Tor Vergata Dip. Neuroscienze-Clinica Neurologica-UOSD Sclerosi Multipla
Rome, Lazio, 00133, Italy
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Princess Alexandra Hospital
Woolloongabba, Queensland, 4102, Australia
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Providence Brain and Spine Institute
Portland, Oregon, 97225, United States
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Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Glasgow, G51 4TF, United Kingdom
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Raleigh Neurology Associates
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607-6520, United States
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Rambam Medical Center
Haifa, 3109601, Israel
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Recherche Sepmus Inc.
Greenfield Park, Quebec, J4V 2J2, Canada
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Regional Clinical Hospital
Ivano-Frankivsk, 76008, Ukraine
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Regional Multiple Sclerosis Centre b/o CC ECM Neftyanik
Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast, 625048, Russia
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Rigshospitalet
Glostrup Municipality, 2600, Denmark
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Royal Melbourne Hospital
Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia
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Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Newark, New Jersey, 07103, United States
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S-Medicon Egeszsegugyi Szolgaltato Kft.
Budapest, 1044, Hungary
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SPSK nr 1
Zabrze, 41-800, Poland
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SUNY Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, New York, 13210, United States
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Salutem Medical Center
Vinnytsia, KIEV Governorate, 21009, Ukraine
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San Juan MS Center
Guaynabo, 968, Puerto Rico
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Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, 34785, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Selcuk University Medical Faculty
Istanbul, 42131, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Separated structural unit ?University hospital? of Dnipro State Medical University
Dnipro, Tavria Okruha, Ukraine
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St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, M5B-1W8, Canada
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State Novosibirsk Regional Clinical Hospital
Novosibirsk, 630087, Russia
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Stony Brook University Medical Center
Stony Brook, New York, 11794, United States
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Studienzentrum Dr. Bischof GmbH
Böblingen, 71034, Germany
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
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Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation
Berkeley, California, 94705, United States
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Sverdlovsk Regional Clinical Hospital 1
Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast, 620102, Russia
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Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, Washington, 98122, United States
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Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Tel Aviv, 6423906, Israel
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Texas Institute for Neurological Disorders
Sherman, Texas, 75092, United States
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The Chaim Sheba Medical Center
Ramat Gan, 5262100, Israel
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The Ottawa Hospital - General Campus
Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6, Canada
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UC Health, LLC.
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, United States
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UMHAT Dr. Georgi Stranski
Pleven, 5800, Bulgaria
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Uni of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Unidade Local de Saúde de Braga
Braga, 4710-243, Portugal
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Universitaetsklinikum Tuebingen
Tübingen, 72076, Germany
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University Clinic of Neurology
Skopje, 1000, North Macedonia
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University of Alberta Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1Z1, Canada
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University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
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University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
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University of Rochester
Rochester, New York, 14642, United States
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University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
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Universitätsklinikum "Carl Gustav Carus", Zentrum für Klinische Neurowissenschaften
Dresden, 01307, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Klinik für Neurologie und Neurophysiologie
Freiburg im Breisgau, 79106, Germany
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Universitätsspital Basel
Basel, 4031, Switzerland
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Van Yuzuncu Yil University Hospital
Van, 65080, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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Vertebronevrologiya LLC
Kazan', Tatarstan Republic, 420047, Russia
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Volyn Regional Clinical Hospital
Lutsk, 43024, Ukraine
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Washington University
St Louis, Missouri, 63128, United States
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Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
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West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, United States
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Wro Medica
Wroc?aw, 51-685, Poland
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Yale University School Of Medicine
Fairfield, Connecticut, 06824, United States
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