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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00530348

Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif® Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis, Study One

The purpose of this study was to establish the efficacy and safety of alemtuzumab (Lemtrada™) as a treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), in comparison with subcutaneous (SC) interferon beta-1a (Rebif®). The study had enrolled participants who had not previously received MS disease-modifying therapies. Participants had monthly laboratory tests and comprehensive testing every 3 months.

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Key information

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Immune System Diseases Multiple Sclerosis Nervous System Diseases

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

DIABAID, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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About this study

Every participant had received active treatment; there was no placebo. Participants who qualified were randomly assigned to treatment with either alemtuzumab or SC interferon beta-1a at a 2:1 ratio (that is, 2 given alemtuzumab for every 1 given interferon beta-1a). Alemtuzumab was administered in two annual courses, once at the beginning of the study and again 1 year later. Interferon beta-1a was self-injected 3 times per week for 2 years. All participants were required to return to their study site every 3 months for neurologic assessment. In addition, safety-related laboratory tests were performed at least monthly. Participation in this study ended 2 years after the start of treatment for each participant. Additionally, participants who received alemtuzumab might be followed in CAMMS03409 (NCT00930553) an extension study for safety and efficacy assessments. Participants who received interferon beta-1a and completed 2 years on study might be eligible to receive alemtuzumab on the extension study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Given written/signed informed consent
  • Age 18 to 50 years old (inclusive) as of the date the informed consent form (ICF) was signed
  • Diagnosis of MS per updated McDonald criteria, and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan demonstrating white matter lesions attributable to MS within 5 years of screening
  • Onset of MS symptoms (as determined by a neurologist, either at screening or retrospectively) within 5 years of the date the ICF was signed
  • Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score 0.0 to 3.0 (inclusive) at screening
  • Greater than or equal to (>=) 2 MS attacks (first episode or relapse) occurring in the 24 months prior to the date the ICF was signed, with >=1 attack in the 12 months prior to the date the ICF was signed, with objective neurological signs confirmed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or other Genzyme-approved health-care provider and the objective signs could be identified retrospectively

Exclusion criteria

  • Received prior therapy for MS other than corticosteroids, for example, alemtuzumab, interferons, intravenous immunoglobulin, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, and mitoxantrone
  • Exposure to azathioprine, cladribine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine A, methotrexate, or any other immunosuppressive agent other than systemic corticosteroid treatment
  • Any progressive form of MS
  • History of malignancy (except basal skin cell carcinoma)
  • CD4 + , CD8 + count, B cell, or absolute neutrophil count less than (<) lower limit of normal (LLN) at screening
  • Known bleeding disorder (for example, dysfibrinogenemia, factor IX deficiency, hemophilia, Von Willebrand's disease, disseminated intravascular coagulation, fibrinogen deficiency, or clotting factor deficiency)
  • Significant autoimmune disease including but not limited to immune cytopenias, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, other connective tissue disorders, vasculitis, inflammatory bowel disease, severe psoriasis
  • Presence of anti-thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) antibodies (that is, above the LLN)
  • Active infection or at high risk for infection

Treatment and study plan

Alemtuzumab

Biological

Alemtuzumab 12 milligram (mg) per day intravenous (IV) infusion on 5 consecutive days at Month 0, followed by alemtuzumab 12 mg per day IV infusion on 3 consecutive days at Month 12.

Other names: Lemtrada

Interferon beta-1a

Biological

Interferon beta-1a 44 microgram (mcg) subcutaneously 3-times weekly for 24 months. Dose adjustment was done as per Investigator's discretion.

Other names: Rebif®

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants With Sustained Accumulation of Disability (SAD)

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

    EDSS is an ordinal scale in half-point increments that quantifies disability in participants with MS. It assesses 7 functional systems (visual, brainstem, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel/bladder and cerebral) as well as ambulation. EDSS total score: 0 (normal neurological examination) to 10 (death due to MS). As measured by EDSS score, SAD was defined as increase of at least 1.5 points for participants with Baseline score of 0 and increase of at least 1.0 point for participants with a Baseline score of 1.0 or more; and the increase persisted for at least next 2 scheduled assessments, that is, 6 consecutive months. Onset date of SAD was date of first EDSS assessment that began 6 month consecutive period of SAD. Participants who did not reach SAD endpoint were censored at their last visit. Percentage of participants with SAD, estimated by Kaplan-Meier (KM) method, was reported.

  2. Annualized Relapse Rate

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

    Relapse was defined as new neurological symptoms or worsening of previous neurological symptoms with an objective change on neurological examination, attributable to multiple sclerosis that lasted for at least 48 hours, that were present at normal body temperature, and that were preceded by at least 30 days of clinical stability. Annualized relapse rate was estimated through negative binomial regression with robust variance estimation and covariate adjustment for geographic region using observed number of relapses as dependent variable, the log total amount of follow-up from date of first study treatment for each participant as an offset variable, and treatment group and geographic region as model covariates.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants Who Were Relapse Free at Year 2

    Time frame: Year 2

    Participants were considered relapse free at Year 2 if they did not experience a relapse from the date of first study treatment to study completion at 24 months. Percentage of participants who were relapse free at Year 2, estimated using the KM method, was reported.

  2. Change From Baseline in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Score at Year 2

    Time frame: Baseline, Year 2

    EDSS is an ordinal scale in half-point increments that quantifies disability in participants with MS. It assesses the 7 functional systems (visual, brainstem, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel/bladder and cerebral) as well as ambulation. EDSS total score ranges from 0 (normal neurological examination) to 10 (death due to MS). Change was calculated by subtracting Baseline value from value at Year 2.

  3. Change From Baseline in Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) Score at Year 2

    Time frame: Baseline, Year 2

    MSFC is a multidimensional measure consisting of quantitative tests of ambulation (Timed 25-Foot Walk), manual dexterity (9-Hole Peg Test; 9HPT), and cognitive function (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test; PASAT). The MSFC score was calculated as the mean of the Z-scores of the 3 components. A Z-score was calculated by subtracting the mean of the reference population from the test result, then dividing by the standard deviation of the reference population. Higher Z-scores reflected better neurological function and a positive change from Baseline indicates improvement. An increase in score indicated an improvement (Z-score range: -3 to +3). Acquisition of disability was measured by change from Baseline in MSFC score at Year 2.

  4. Percent Change From Baseline in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Time Constant 2 (MRI-T2) Hyperintense Lesion Volume at Year 2

    Time frame: Baseline, Year 2

    Percent change in MS lesion volume as measured by MRI-T2 scan was calculated from MRI-T2-weighted scans as the following: (lesion volume at 2 years - lesion volume at Baseline)*100/ (lesion volume at Baseline).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Genzyme, a Sanofi Company

Industry

Collaborators

  • Bayer

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase 3 Randomized, Rater-Blinded Study Comparing Two Annual Cycles of Intravenous Alemtuzumab to Three-Times Weekly Subcutaneous Interferon Beta-1a (Rebif®) in Treatment-Naïve Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Acronym: CARE-MS I

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
Sep 17, 2007
Registry last updated
Nov 24, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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