@article {Giovannonie1, author = {Gavin Giovannoni and Regina Berkovich and Oscar Fernandez and Heinz Wiendl and David Margolin and Karthinathan Thangavelu and Christopher LaGanke and on behalf of the CARE-MS I and CARE-MS II Investigators}, title = {ALEMTUZUMAB IMPROVES EDSS FUNCTIONAL SYSTEMS SCORES IN RRMS}, volume = {87}, number = {12}, pages = {e1--e1}, year = {2016}, doi = {10.1136/jnnp-2016-315106.132}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {In patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and an inadequate response (>=1 relapse) to prior therapy, alemtuzumab improved Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) functional systems scores (FSS) over 2 years versus subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (CARE-MS II; NCT00548405). Here we assess alemtuzumab{\textquoteright}s effect on FSS over 5 years. Patients received alemtuzumab at baseline and Month 12 in the core study. Patients entering an extension (NCT00930553) could receive as-needed alemtuzumab retreatment, or another disease-modifying therapy (DMT), for disease activity. EDSS was evaluated quarterly by blinded raters. 6-month confirmed FSS disability progression was defined as >=1.0-point increase in an FSS. 393 (93\%) alemtuzumab patients entered the extension; 357 (91\%) remained on study through 5 years, 60\% received no alemtuzumab after Month 12, and 92\% received no other DMT. Over 5 years, mean cerebellar, pyramidal, sensory, and cerebral FSS did not exceed baseline; for each FSS, 71\%{\textendash}80\% of patients were free from disability progression. Patients who received only 2 courses of alemtuzumab and no other DMT for 5 years generally had lower FSS than other patients. RRMS patients with inadequate response to prior therapy had persistent improvement/stability across multiple FSS over 5 years with alemtuzumab; most patients received no additional treatment since Month 12.Study supported by Sanofi Genzyme and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals.}, issn = {0022-3050}, URL = {https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/12/e1.38}, eprint = {https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/12/e1.38.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery \& Psychiatry} }