%0 Systematic Review %T Use of follow-on disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis: Consensus recommendations. %A Brownlee WJ %A Wolf C %A Hartung HP %A Dingermann T %A Anshasi N %A Clark RA %A Trojano M %A Selmaj K %A Uitdehaag BM %A Tur C %A Wuerfel J %A Dallmann G %A Witte J %A Sintzel M %A Bobrovnikova O %A Cohen JA %J Mult Scler %V 28 %N 14 %D 12 2022 %M 36000489 %F 5.855 %R 10.1177/13524585221116269 %X As patents for multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies expire, follow-on disease-modifying treatments (FO-DMTs) become available at reduced cost. Concerns exist that cheaper FO-DMTs are used simply to reduce healthcare costs. However, the well-being of people with MS should take priority.
To identify best practices for FO-DMT development and use by agreeing on principles and consensus statements through appraisal of published evidence.
Following a systematic review, we formulated five overarching principles and 13 consensus statements. Principles and statements were voted on by a multidisciplinary panel from 17 European countries, Argentina, Canada and the United States.
All principles and statements were endorsed by >80% of panellists. In brief, FO-DMTs approved within highly regulated areas can be considered effective and safe as their reference products; FO-DMTs can be evaluated case by case and do not always require Phase III trials; long-term pharmacovigilance and transparency are needed; there is lack of evidence for multiple- and cross-switching among FO-DMTs; and education is needed to address remaining concerns.
Published data support the use of FO-DMTs in MS. The consensus may aid shared decision-making. While our consensus focused on Europe, the results may contribute to enhanced quality standards for FO-DMTs use elsewhere.