Ponesimod (2) – Ponvory®

Relaps multiple sclerosis (MS)

Characteristics

Start date 01.12.2021
Resolution 19.05.2022
INN Ponesimod
Brand name Ponvory®
Pharm. company Dossier: Janssen-Cilag GmbH
New distributor: LABORATOIRES JUVISE PHARMACEUTICALS
G-BA Procedure ID D-766
ATC code L04AE04 IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS (L04A)
ICD-10 codes (AIS) G35.10, G35.11, G35.30, G35.31, G35.9
Alpha-ID codes (AIS) I98549Multiple sclerosis with predominantly relapsing-remitting course, I98551Multiple sclerosis with secondary-chronic course, I99339Multiple sclerosis
DDD 20 mg O
Therapeutic area Nervous system diseases Multiple sclerosis (MS) / Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD)
Reason for procedure Initial assessment
Specialty ACT change

Therapeutic indication of the resolution

Ponvory is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features.

Subpopulation Indication Comparator
a1) Adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RMS) who have not yet received disease-modifying therapy or adults pre-treated with disease-modifying therapy whose disease is not highly active; EDSS score ≤ 3.5). Interferon beta-1a or interferon beta-1b or glatiramer acetate or dimethyl fumarate or teriflunomide or ocrelizumab taking into account the marketing authorisation.
a2) Adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RMS) who have not yet received disease-modifying therapy or adults pre-treated with disease-modifying therapy whose disease is not highly active; EDSS score > 3.5). Interferon beta-1a or interferon beta-1b or glatiramer acetate or dimethyl fumarate or teriflunomide or ocrelizumab taking into account the marketing authorisation.

Studies and Results

No. of studies
(best subpopulation)
1 (OPTIMUM)
Study design
(best subpopulation)
H2H vs. ACT
Meta analysis
(best subpopulation)
no
Reason for dividing into subpopulations (G-BA) Disease stage
ACT change 02.12.2021 – Neue Leitlinien

  • Clinical trials
    • To assess the additional benefit of ponesimod, the pharmaceutical manufacturer has submitted the randomised, double-blind OPTIMUM trial, in which ponesimod was compared with teriflunomide.

a1) Adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who have not yet received disease-modifying therapy, or adults previously treated with disease-modifying therapy whose disease is not highly active; EDSS score ≤ 3.5

  • Overall, therefore, there is an indication of a minor additional benefit of ponesimod compared with teriflunomide in adults with an EDSS score ≤ 3.5.
  • mortality
    • The findings on overall mortality are based on data on fatal adverse events. No statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups.
  • Morbidity – Confirmed relapses (EDSS-based)
    • For the endpoint of confirmed relapses, operationalised as the annual relapse rate, there is a statistically significant advantage in favour of ponesimod compared with teriflunomide.
    • Whilst a statistically significant advantage in favour of ponesimod continues to be observed for adults with an EDSS score ≤ 3.5 (mild disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated for adults with an EDSS score > 3.5 (more severe disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated.
  • Morbidity – Confirmed disability progression (EDSS-based)
    • No statistically significant difference between the treatment groups was observed for the endpoint of confirmed disability progression.
  • Morbidity – Severity of disability (Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite [MSFC])
    • For the endpoint of severity of disability, assessed using the MSFC z-score, there is a statistically significant advantage of ponesimod over teriflunomide. However, the 95% confidence interval for Hedges’ g does not lie entirely above the irrelevance threshold of 0.20. It cannot therefore be concluded that the effect is clinically relevant.
  • Morbidity – Fatigue (Patient Global Impression of Severity [PGI-S])
    • For the endpoint of fatigue, assessed using the PGI-S, there is no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups.
  • Health-related quality of life – Short Form-36 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2)
    • Whilst a statistically significant advantage in favour of ponesimod over teriflunomide continues to be observed for adults with an EDSS score ≤ 3.5 (mild disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated for adults with an EDSS score > 3.5 (more severe disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated.
    • For the mental health summary score (MCS) of the SF-36v2, there is no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups in terms of either improvement or deterioration compared with the start of the study.
  • Side effects – SUEs
    • No statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups for the SUEs endpoint.
  • Side effects – discontinuation due to AEs
    • For the endpoint ‘withdrawal due to AEs’, no statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups.
  • Side effects – bradycardia (PT, AE)
    • For the endpoint ‘bradycardia’, there was a statistically significant difference between the treatment groups, with a disadvantage for ponesimod compared with teriflunomide.
  • Side effects – Infections and parasitic diseases (SOC, SAE)
    • For the endpoint ‘infections and parasitic diseases’, there was no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups.
  • Side effects – alopecia (PT, AE)
    • For the endpoint alopecia, there is a statistically significant advantage for ponesimod over teriflunomide.
  • Overall assessment
    • In adults with an EDSS score ≤ 3.5 (mild disability), ponesimod showed an advantage over teriflunomide in terms of morbidity (confirmed relapses) and health-related quality of life (SF-36v2, physical summary score). However, these observed advantages are not reflected in other patient-relevant endpoints such as disability progression or fatigue.
    • Based on the adverse reaction profile, it cannot be concluded that ponesimod causes either greater or minor harm overall.
    • The effects of ponesimod are therefore assessed, in adults with an EDSS score ≤ 3.5, as a moderate—rather than merely minor—improvement in treatment-related benefit compared with the appropriate comparator therapy, which has not been achieved to date, and the extent of the additional benefit is classified as minor.
    • Overall, therefore, for ponesimod in the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who have not yet received disease-modifying therapy, or adults previously treated with disease-modifying therapy whose disease is not highly active, and who have an EDSS score of ≤ 3.5, a minor additional benefit compared with teriflunomide.

a2) Adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who have not yet received disease-modifying therapy, or adults who have previously been treated with disease-modifying therapy and whose disease is not highly active; EDSS score > 3.5

  • Overall, therefore, no additional benefit of ponesimod over teriflunomide can be established in adults with an EDSS score > 3.5.
  • The additional benefit is not proven.
  • mortality
    • The findings on overall mortality are based on data on fatal adverse events. No statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups.
  • Morbidity – Confirmed relapses (EDSS-based)
    • Whilst a statistically significant advantage in favour of ponesimod continues to be observed for adults with an EDSS score ≤ 3.5 (mild disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated for adults with an EDSS score > 3.5 (more severe disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated.
  • Morbidity – Confirmed disability progression (EDSS-based)
    • For the endpoint of confirmed disability progression, no statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups.
  • Morbidity – Severity of disability (Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite [MSFC])
    • For the endpoint of severity of disability, assessed using the MSFC z-score, there is a statistically significant advantage of ponesimod over teriflunomide. However, the 95% confidence interval for Hedges’ g does not lie entirely above the irrelevance threshold of 0.20. It cannot therefore be concluded that the effect is clinically relevant.
  • Morbidity – Fatigue (Patient Global Impression of Severity [PGI-S])
    • For the endpoint of fatigue, assessed using the PGI-S, there is no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups.
  • Health-related quality of life – Short Form-36 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2)
    • Whilst a statistically significant advantage in favour of ponesimod over teriflunomide continues to be observed for adults with an EDSS score ≤ 3.5 (mild disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated for adults with an EDSS score > 3.5 (more severe disability), no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups can be demonstrated.
    • For the mental health summary score (MCS) of the SF-36v2, there is no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups in terms of either improvement or deterioration compared with baseline.
  • Side effects – SUEs
    • No statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups for the SUEs endpoint.
  • Side effects – discontinuation due to AEs
    • For the endpoint ‘withdrawal due to AEs’, no statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups.
  • Side effects – bradycardia (PT, AE)
    • For the endpoint ‘bradycardia’, there was a statistically significant difference between the treatment groups, with a disadvantage for ponesimod compared with teriflunomide.
  • Side effects – Infections and parasitic diseases (SOC, SAE)
    • For the endpoint ‘infections and parasitic diseases’, there was no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups.
  • Side effects – alopecia (PT, AE)
    • For the endpoint alopecia, there is a statistically significant advantage for ponesimod over teriflunomide.
  • Overall assessment
    • In adults with an EDSS score > 3.5 (more severe disability), no statistically significant differences were observed between the treatment groups for the endpoints of mortality, morbidity and health-related quality of life.
    • With regard to side effects, no overall increase or minor decrease in harm attributable to ponesimod can be inferred for this patient group either.
    • Overall, the additional benefit of ponesimod over teriflunomide in adults with an EDSS score > 3.5 is not proven.

Courtesy translation only, please refer to the German original.

Associated procedures

Ponesimod (2) Ponvory® Janssen-Cilag GmbH Nervous system diseases Relaps multiple sclerosis (MS) 186,000–200,000 50% Indication of minor additional benefit
Ponesimod (1) Ponvory® Janssen-Cilag GmbH Nervous system diseases Relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) 21,000–23,000 100% additional benefit not proven


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