What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to evaluate the initiation and completion rates of cladribine tablet treatment in multiple sclerosis patients across several countries.

March 31, 2026Open Access

Insights into adherence to cladribine tablets in the real world in multiple countries: results from patient support programs

Key Points

The study aims to evaluate the initiation and completion rates of cladribine tablet treatment in multiple sclerosis patients across several countries.
Conducted a retrospective, multinational, observational study using real-world data from various patient support programs.
Collected clinical data from multiple countries including Australia, Canada, Gulf, Latin America, Near East, Netherlands, UK, and US.
Analyzed patient demographics, prior treatment history, and adherence to cladribine tablet treatment in the first two years.
22,082 patients initiated cladribine tablets, with a completion rate of 93.6% for Year 2 treatment among those who started.
Higher adherence rates were observed, with between 70.9% and 81.3% of participants being female and predominantly experienced with prior DMT.
Only a small percentage of patients received additional treatment after 48 months, indicating sustained adherence.

Abstract

Background: Patient support programs (PSP) help initiate and maintain disease-modifying treatment (DMT) for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). adveva ® (worldwide), Alcura Healthcare (Netherlands), and MS LifeLines ® (US) are nurse–pharmacy-led PSPs that collect clinical information, with consent, on PwMS receiving cladribine tablets (3.5 mg/kg over 2 years followed by a 2-year treatment-free period per product label). Objective: To evaluate initiation and completion of short courses of cladribine tablets treatment in Years 1 and 2 for PwMS and the frequency of subsequent treatment. Design: Retrospective, multinational, observational study using real-world data from PSPs. Methods: Clinical data from PSPs in Australia, Canada, Gulf, Latin America, Near East, Netherlands, UK, and US (December 2017–December 2023) included prior DMT use, cladribine tablets initiation and completion (Years 1 and 2), and subsequent treatment after Year 2 for those with ⩾48 months’ follow-up. Results: Across all PSPs, 22,082 PwMS initiated cladribine tablets (Australia, n = 799; Canada, n = 3665; Gulf, n = 258; Latin America, n = 1854; Near East, n = 86; Netherlands, n = 681; UK, n = 2320; US, n = 12,418), of whom 70.9%–81.3% were female (mean age 34.2–49.1 years). Most were DMT-experienced (Australia, no contribution to analysis; Canada, 100%; Gulf, 52.7%; Latin America, 57.7%; Near East, 86.0%; Netherlands, 81.4%; UK, 30.0%; US, 79.5%) with oral DMTs most commonly used (36.5%–69.3%). In PwMS with ⩾18 months’ follow-up, ⩾82.8% initiated Year 2 treatment at a mean of 12.4 (±3.8) to 13.9 (±3.5) months after initiating Year 1 treatment. Of those commencing Year 2 treatment, ⩾93.6% completed it. Additional treatment with cladribine tablets beyond 48 months was administered in a small proportion of PwMS: Canada, 5.6%; Latin America, 4.3%; Netherlands, 3.8%; and UK, 1.8%. Conclusion: Cladribine tablets adherence was high, with most PwMS completing short-course cladribine tablets treatment in Years 1 and 2. Of those with ⩾48 months’ follow-up, only a small proportion received additional cladribine tablets treatment.

Read Full Paperexternally

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Oh et al. (Sun,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69cb64d4e6a8c024954b8d85 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864261426842

Bookmark

View Full Paper