BEAT-MS Trial to Compare AHSCT to MS Treatments

Over recent years, we have seen a large expansion in the number of available treatments for people living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).  As well as this, we have recently seen a number of countries approve Siponimod for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).  Our explanation of Siponimod can be viewed here.

Beyond these approaches, we have also seen a number of studies show that autologous haematopoeitic stem cell transfer (AHSCT) can be a very effective therapeutic option for some people living with multiple sclerosis.  

With such positive results having been observed in these trials, the question now being asked is whether or not AHSCT is a better treatment option for people living with MS than the best available current medications?  

Early in 2019, a study was published that provided one of the first insights into the answer to this question.  You can revisit our thoughts on this trial by clicking here.  However, as you will see in that article, there were also some limitations that meant the question could not be answered definitively.

Considering this, another trial has been announced that will be doing a similar comparison.  This study, called the Best Available Therapy Versus Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Sclerosis trial, or BEAT-MS for short, will be conducted at clinical centres in the US and UK.

The study will be recruiting around 160 participants.  These participants will be split evenly and randomly into two groups.  One group will receive AHSCT and the other group will be treated with the best (most powerful) available current therapies.  Participants in this second group will be treated with either natalizumab (Tysabri), alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) or rituximab (Rituxan).  

All participants will be followed for 6 years after being randomly assigned to a group.  The study will monitor a number of clinical outcomes (e.g. time without relapses, total number of relapses, changes in brain volume, etc), as well as the safety issues associated with either treatment approach.

Postface

The following brief thoughts are shared from the author, Brett Drummond, and are purely his personal opinion.  This trial will hopefully provide strong evidence for the comparison of treatment approaches for people living with multiple sclerosis.  However, we know that with multiple sclerosis, we can never adopt a ‘one size fits all approach’.  The choice of the most appropriate course of treatment action will always be based on a number of factors, which will differ between individuals.  In saying that, the results of this study should help provide important information that can be used by people when making those decisions.

For more information on this trial you can visit the following links:

Study website: http://www.beat-ms.org/

NIH: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04047628