Switching MS treatments after a relapse: does it reduce future attacks?
NCT ID NCT07743281
First seen Aug 03, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study examines what happens when people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a relapse while on a standard treatment. It compares those who switch to a stronger, high-efficacy treatment with those who stay on their current therapy, looking at how many experience further relapses. By analyzing real-world data from 753 patients, the study aims to see if escalating treatment after a relapse is linked to better outcomes. The findings could help doctors and patients make more informed decisions about treatment changes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If this study finds that escalating to a stronger treatment after a relapse reduces future relapses, it could help guide doctors in making more effective treatment decisions for people with multiple sclerosis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a retrospective study, meaning it looks back at past data rather than testing a new treatment in a controlled trial. It can only show associations, not proof, and results may be influenced by differences between the groups.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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753 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2025
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- 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.
Who is studied
Adult MS patients who relapsed on a platform oral or injectable DMT in real-world practice during the patient identification period, between March 28, 2017 and July 31, 2023.
- Ages
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18 to 100 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: Patients in the Base Sample were required to meet the following eligibility criteria: * Incident claim for a platform oral or injectable DMT in the patient identification period (Mar 28, 2017 - Jul 31, 2023). * Treatment initiation date is the first qualifying DMT claim date. * Initial treatment is the DMT recorded on treatment initiation date. * No claim for a different DMT used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the treatment initiation date. * ≥18 years of age on treatment initiation date. * ≥2 outpatient medical claims (at least 30 days apart) with a diagnosis code for MS (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification \[ICD-10-CM\] code: G35) in any position, with the first claim occurring in the 12 months prior to the treatment initiation date and the second claim up to 6 months after treatment initiation date, or ≥1 inpatient claim with a diagnosis of MS in the first position in the 12 months prior to or on treatment initiation date. * ≥1 relapse recorded after ≥3 months of persistent use of initial treatment and during period of persistence on initial treatment. o Index relapse date is the start date of earliest qualifying relapse episode in the initial treatment period. * Continuous healthcare plan enrollment for ≥12 months prior to treatment initiation date and ≥12 months after index relapse date. Patients in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 included patients meeting the following criteria: * Included in Base Sample. * ≥1 claim for a platform oral, platform injectable, or high-efficacy DMT during the switch eligibility period (12-month period after index relapse date). o For the high-efficacy DMT patients, index treatment date is the date of the first claim for a high-efficacy DMT during the switch eligibility period. For patients who remain on the initial treatment or switch to another DMT, the index treatment date is the date of the claim for the initial treatment that falls in the exposure set and meets matching criteria. * Continuous healthcare plan enrollment and persistent use of index DMT for ≥6 months after index treatment date. Exclusion criteria: • Patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria.
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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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Novartis
East Hanover, New Jersey, 07936, United States
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