New Data Suggest UPLIZNA (inebilizumab-cdon) for the Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) Did Not Increase the Risk of COVID-19 Infection or Reduce Antibody Levels From Childhood Vaccines - Seite 2

Long-term UPLIZNA Treatment Did Not Affect Vaccine-Generated Antibodies in NMOSD Patients

This analysis aimed to evaluate whether long-term B-cell depletion in patients being treated with UPLIZNA affects antibody levels from childhood vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella-zoster and tetanus. Assay assessments were conducted to measure antibody titers associated with each vaccine at week 156 of the N-MOmentum trial, comparing the change from baseline among UPLIZNA-treated versus placebo-treated participants. Overall, vaccine titers showed no meaningful reduction after 3.5 years of treatment with UPLIZNA.

“The N-MOmentum trial has provided a rich body of data that we are mining to better understand the mechanisms of UPLIZNA and its impact among people with NMOSD beyond protection against attacks,” said Kristina Patterson, M.D., PhD, medical director, neuroimmunology, Horizon. “The results of these analyses provide further support that UPLIZNA is an effective long-term treatment for NMOSD with a favorable safety profile.”

About Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

NMOSD is a unifying term for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and related syndromes. NMOSD is a rare, severe, relapsing, neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease that attacks the optic nerve, spinal cord, brain and brain stem.^1,2 Approximately 80% of all patients with NMOSD test positive for anti-AQP4 antibodies.³ AQP4-IgG binds primarily to astrocytes in the central nervous system and triggers an escalating immune response that results in lesion formation and astrocyte death.⁴

Anti-AQP4 autoantibodies are produced by plasmablasts and some plasma cells. These B-cell populations are central to NMOSD disease pathogenesis, and a large proportion of these cells express CD19.⁵ Depletion of these CD19+ B-cells is thought to remove an important contributor to inflammation, lesion formation and astrocyte damage. Clinically, this damage presents as an NMOSD attack, which can involve the optic nerve, spinal cord and brain.^4,6 Loss of vision, paralysis, loss of sensation, bladder and bowel dysfunction, nerve pain and respiratory failure can all be manifestations of the disease.⁷ Each NMOSD attack can lead to further cumulative damage and disability.^8,9 NMOSD occurs more commonly in women and may be more common in individuals of African and Asian descent.^10,11