Efficacy and Safety of Fingolimod in Patients With Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis With Optional Extension Phase

The ARR is defined as the number of confirmed relapses in a year. A relapse is defined as the appearance of a new or worsening of a previously stable or improving pre existing neurological abnormality, separated by at least 30 days from onset of a preceding relapse. The abnormality must be present for at least 24 hours and occur in the absence of fever or infection. The annualized ARR for each treatment group was calculated using negative binomial regression adjusted by treatment, country, number of relapses in the previous 2 years, and the baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale score.

The number of new or newly enlarged T2 lesions in comparison to baseline was assessed with T2-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans. A T2-weighted MRI scan utilizes particular values of the echo time (TE) and the repetition time (TR) parameters of image acquisition. Inflammation and tissue damage are seen as bright areas in T2 images and are often referred to as T2 lesions. T2-weighted MRI scans are a sensitive way to evaluate the brain for demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

The EDSS is a scale for assessing disability in 8 functional systems (visual, brain stem, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel & bladder, cerebral, other functions). An overall score ranging from 0 (normal) to 10 (death due to MS) is calculated. Disability progression was determined by the EDSS score based on the following criteria: One point increase from baseline in patients with baseline EDSS score from 0 to 5.0; or half a point increase in patients with baseline EDSS score of 5.5 or above. Percent of patients free of disability progression was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

The ARR is defined as the number of confirmed relapses in a year. A relapse is defined as the appearance of a new or worsening of a previously stable or improving pre existing neurological abnormality, separated by at least 30 days from onset of a preceding relapse. The abnormality must be present for at least 24 hours and occur in the absence of fever or infection. The annualized ARR for each treatment group was calculated using negative binomial regression adjusted by treatment, country, number of relapses in the previous 2 years, and the baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale score.

The number of new or newly enlarged T2 lesions in comparison to baseline was assessed with T2-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans. A T2-weighted MRI scan utilizes particular values of the echo time (TE) and the repetition time (TR) parameters of image acquisition. Inflammation and tissue damage are seen as bright areas in T2 images and are often referred to as T2 lesions. T2-weighted MRI scans are a sensitive way to evaluate the brain for demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

The EDSS is a scale for assessing disability in 8 functional systems (visual, brain stem, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel & bladder, cerebral, other functions). An overall score ranging from 0 (normal) to 10 (death due to MS) is calculated. Disability progression was determined by the EDSS score based on the following criteria: One point increase from baseline in patients with baseline EDSS score from 0 to 5.0; or half a point increase in patients with baseline EDSS score of 5.5 or above. Percent of patients free of disability progression was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.