Roche’s multiple sclerosis pill more than doubled patients’ relapse-free intervals compared with Sanofi’s marketed MS pill Aubagio, according to data presented late on Tuesday.
The result stakes out a clear efficacy advantage over one of the oral MS field’s established treatments. Doubling the relapse-free interval is a headline number that practicing neurologists can’t ignore when weighing prescribing decisions: the gap between the two drugs isn’t small. Aubagio has been on the market for years, which makes this head-to-head data a direct competitive threat to Sanofi.
The liver toxicity signal is where the story gets complicated. Trial results flagged that the drug could require liver monitoring — an added burden for patients managing a chronic neurological disease long-term. MS requires ongoing treatment, so any monitoring requirement adds real friction.
MS oral therapies sit in one of neurology’s largest prescription markets. A pill that outperforms an established oral standard on relapse prevention could attract meaningful prescriber uptake and formulary positioning at launch.
Roche presented the data late Tuesday.
— Sarah Chen