Determining the Effectiveness of earLy Intensive Versus Escalation Approaches for RRMS

DELIVER-MS is a multi-center pragmatic comparative effectiveness randomized clinical trial with additional-parallel observational cohort. It aims to enroll up to 400 individuals newly diagnosed with RRMS and randomize them 1:1 to Early Highly Effective (EHT) or Escalation (ESC) treatment paradigms, based on the use of different disease modifying therapies (DMT) as first-line therapy. EHT approach to DMT is defined as use of one of five monoclonal antibodies (alemtuzumab, natalizumab, rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, ublituximab) as first-line therapy. ESC approach is defined as initiating any other approved MS DMT as first-line therapy, then escalating to a more effective therapy upon disease activity. Once randomized, the Neurologist and Participant decide which DMT within the arm is most appropriate. After the initial DMT is initiated, if a DMT change is needed, the second-line therapy may be chosen from either arm, regardless of randomization. The randomization only applies to the initial DMT choice.

Up to 400 individuals who do are not amenable to randomization or who agree to randomization but are not approved for coverage for a medication in the arm to which they were randomized will enter the Observational Arm. In the Observational Arm, the DMT chosen is from any approved DMT for MS and is chosen by the Neurologist and participant.

All study procedures throughout are identical between the randomized and observation alarm, except for the randomization.

The primary objective for the initial 36 months of the study is normalized whole brain volume loss, measured using MRI from baseline to Month 36. The primary objective for the long term extension of the study (Months 48-108) is the EDSS+, a composite measure of clinical disability based on the EDSS and MSFC.

The study is performed primarily in tertiary MS Centers in the US and UK.

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women aged 18 to 60 years.
• Established diagnosis of MS, as defined by the 2017 revision of McDonald Diagnostic Criteria (99).
• RRMS disease course as defined by the 2013 revisions of the MS clinical course definition (4).
• Participants must have evidence of active disease based on: one or more MS relapses within the last 18 months prior to screening visit or radiological evidence of MS activity (≥2 new T2 lesions within the last 12 months from screening [compared to a previous recent MRI within 18 months of screening] or ≥1 GdE demonstrated on brain or spinal cord MRI performed within the last 12 months of screening).
• Participants must be ambulatory with disease onset ≤ 5 years and treatment-naïve (i.e., no MS DMT at any time in the past).
• Participants must be eligible to receive at least one form of DMT within each treatment arm.
• EDSS at Baseline visit ≤ 6.5

Exclusion criteria

• Participants with contraindications to all forms of DMT in either of the treatment arms.
• Participants must never have received any of the following medications: natalizumab, alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab, rituximab, ofatumumab, cladribine, siponimod, interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, pegylated interferon beta-1a, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, daclizumab, mitoxantrone, diroximel fumarate, ozanimod, monomethyl fumarate, ponesimod.
• Participants must have not received any of the following medications, for reasons other than MS, in the last 12 months: cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, methotrexate, leflunomide, laquinimod, atacicept, other monoclonal antibodies.
• Participants with clinically relevant medical or surgical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the subject at risk by participating in the study
• Participants unable to provide informed consent.
• Contraindication or inability to undergo MRI with Gd due to metal or metal implants, allergy to Gd contrast, claustrophobia, pain, spasticity, or excessive movement related to tremor.
• Unwillingness or inability to comply with the requirements of this protocol including the presence of any condition (physical, mental, or social) that, in the opinion of the PI, is likely to affect the participant's ability to comply with the study protocol.