Five-Year Data Show Sustained Benefits with Briumvi in Relapsing MS

Why It Matters

The findings validate anti‑CD20 monoclonal antibodies as a durable disease‑modifying option, influencing treatment algorithms for relapsing MS and reassuring clinicians about long‑term safety.

Key Takeaways

• >80% remained relapse‑free after five years on Briumvi.
• Disability progression halved versus early teriflunomide use.
• Annualised relapse rate dropped to 0.02 per year.
• 73% stayed on therapy, indicating strong adherence.
• Serious infection rates stayed low, no new safety signals.

Pulse Analysis

Anti‑CD20 therapies have reshaped the multiple sclerosis landscape by targeting B‑cell activity, and Briumvi (ublituximab) is a leading entrant developed by TG Therapeutics. While short‑term trials established its potency, clinicians have long sought robust evidence of durability, given MS’s lifelong trajectory. The five‑year extension of the ULTIMATE I and II studies fills that gap, offering a rare glimpse into sustained disease control and informing payer decisions that increasingly demand long‑term outcome data.

The extension data reveal that early initiation of Briumvi translates into markedly lower relapse frequencies and slower disability accrual. Patients who remained on continuous Briumvi experienced an annualised relapse rate of just 0.02, a stark contrast to the 0.08‑0.09 rates observed earlier in the trial. Moreover, confirmed disability progression was cut by nearly half compared with those who began on teriflunomide, underscoring the advantage of early, high‑efficacy intervention. These outcomes reinforce the therapeutic rationale of front‑loading potent agents in relapsing MS to preserve neurological function.

Safety and adherence emerge as equally compelling narratives. Over 70 % of participants persisted with Briumvi for five years, reflecting tolerability that rivals oral comparators. Serious infection rates hovered around 2 per 100 patient‑years, with no novel safety signals, alleviating concerns about prolonged immunosuppression. For neurologists, this evidence supports confidence in prescribing Briumvi as a long‑term solution, while manufacturers can leverage the data to differentiate their product in a competitive market. Ongoing real‑world registries will be essential to confirm these findings across broader patient populations.