A Phase 2 Study of Cladribine Add-on to Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Subjects With Active Disease (ONWARD) (ONWARD)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00436826
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: February 19, 2007
• Results First Posted: July 1, 2013
• Last Update Posted: October 12, 2020
• Sponsor: EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc.
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): EMD Serono ( EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. )

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of oral cladribine when taken in combination with Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

This study randomized around 200 participants from approximately 50 sites located world-wide, who have experienced at least one relapse while taking IFN-beta therapy within 48 weeks prior to Screening, irrespective of disability progression. Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) participants, who were still experiencing relapses, and participants who have received disease modifying drugs (DMDs), other than IFN-beta therapy, during their MS treatment history, but were currently on IFN-beta therapy and have experienced active MS symptoms (at least 1 relapse) during the 48 weeks prior to Screening, were enrolled.

Participants were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive up to 4 cycles of oral cladribine or matching placebo in combination with IFN-beta therapy. Participants who completed the double-blind portion of the study were invited to participate in an open-label extension phase of matching study design.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Multiple Sclerosis	Drug: Cladribine; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta)	Phase 2

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 172 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy Study of Add-on Cladribine Tablet Therapy With Interferon-beta (IFN-β) Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis Subjects With Active Disease
• Actual Study Start Date: November 30, 2006
• Actual Primary Completion Date: September 30, 2011
• Actual Study Completion Date: March 31, 2012

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg, IFN-beta (DB period); Participants received cladribine tablets orally as cumulative dose of 0.875 mg/kg over a course of 4-5 consecutive days at Week 1, 5, 48, and 52 resulting in total cladribine dose of 3.5 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) along with interferon (IFN)-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation [RNF] 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 microgram (mcg) every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during the Double blind period (DBP) of 96 weeks.	Drug: Cladribine; Participants were administered with cladribine tablets orally as cumulative dose.; Drug: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta); Participants received IFN-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation [RNF] 44 microgram [mcg] three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during both DB period of 96 weeks and OL extension period of 48 weeks.; Other Names: Avonex®; Betaseron®; RNF
Placebo Comparator: Placebo, IFN-beta (DB period); Participants received matching placebo tablets orally over a course of 4-5 consecutive days at Week 1, 5, 48, and 52 along with IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during the DB period of 96 weeks.	Drug: Placebo; Participants were administered with placebo orally.; Drug: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta); Participants received IFN-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation [RNF] 44 microgram [mcg] three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during both DB period of 96 weeks and OL extension period of 48 weeks.; Other Names: Avonex®; Betaseron®; RNF
Experimental: Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg, IFN-beta, Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg (OL Ext); Participants who received cladribine 3.5 mg/kg initially and completed DB period entered in the open label (OL) extension (Ext.) period. In OL Ext. period, participant who met the eligibility criteria received OL oral cladribine 3.5 mg/kg over maximum of 48 weeks along with IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks.	Drug: Cladribine; Participants were administered with cladribine tablets orally as cumulative dose.; Drug: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta); Participants received IFN-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation [RNF] 44 microgram [mcg] three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during both DB period of 96 weeks and OL extension period of 48 weeks.; Other Names: Avonex®; Betaseron®; RNF
Placebo Comparator: Placebo, IFN-beta, Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg (OL Ext); Participants who received placebo initially and completed DB period entered in the OL Ext. period. In OL Ext. period, participant who met the eligibility criteria received OL oral cladribine 3.5 mg/kg over maximum of 48 weeks along with IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks.	Drug: Cladribine; Participants were administered with cladribine tablets orally as cumulative dose.; Drug: Placebo; Participants were administered with placebo orally.; Drug: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta); Participants received IFN-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation [RNF] 44 microgram [mcg] three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during both DB period of 96 weeks and OL extension period of 48 weeks.; Other Names: Avonex®; Betaseron®; RNF
Experimental: Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg, IFN-beta (Safety follow up); Participants who received cladribine 3.5 mg/kg initially and completed DB period entered in the OL ext. safety follow up period. In this period, participants who did not meet eligibility criteria received only IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks.	Drug: Cladribine; Participants were administered with cladribine tablets orally as cumulative dose.; Drug: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta); Participants received IFN-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation [RNF] 44 microgram [mcg] three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during both DB period of 96 weeks and OL extension period of 48 weeks.; Other Names: Avonex®; Betaseron®; RNF
Placebo Comparator: Placebo, IFN-beta (Safety follow up); Participants who received placebo initially and completed DB period entered in the OL ext. safety follow up period. In this period, participants who did not meet eligibility criteria received only IFN-beta therapy (RNF 44 mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) up to 48 weeks.	Drug: Placebo; Participants were administered with placebo orally.; Drug: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta); Participants received IFN-beta therapy (Rebif® new formulation [RNF] 44 microgram [mcg] three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex® 30 mcg every week, intramuscularly; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously) during both DB period of 96 weeks and OL extension period of 48 weeks.; Other Names: Avonex®; Betaseron®; RNF

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Double Blind Period: Percentage of Participants With Grade 3 or 4 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] v 4.0) Hematological or Liver Toxicity [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   Percentage of participants with Grade 3 or 4 CTCAE v 4.0 toxicity on the following hematology and liver function parameters were reported: lymphocytes, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell, neutrophils, white blood cells, hemoglobin, Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Platelets and Bilirubin. According to CTCAE v 4.0: Grade 1=mild, Grade 2=moderate, Grade 3=severe, Grade 4=life threatening or disabling and Grade 5=Death.
2. Double Blind Period: Percentage of Participants With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) in Infections and Infestations System Organ Class (SOC) [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   An Adverse event (AE) was defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease associated with the use of study drug, whether or not considered related to the study drug or worsening of pre-existing medical condition, whether or not related to study drug. A serious adverse event (SAE) was an AE that resulted in any of the following outcomes: death; life threatening; persistent/significant disability/incapacity; initial or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; congenital anomaly/birth defect or was otherwise considered medically important. An AE was considered as 'treatment emergent' if it occurred after the first drug administration of each period or if it was present prior to drug administration but exacerbated after the drug administration.TEAEs were entered in infections and infestations SOC as per medical dictionary for regulatory activities (MedDRA) version 11.0
3. Double Blind Period: Number of Participants With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and Serious TEAEs [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in the form of signs, symptoms, abnormal laboratory findings, or diseases that emerges or worsens relative to baseline during a clinical study with an Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP), regardless of causal relationship and even if no IMP has been administered. SAE: Any AE that resulted in death; was life threatening; resulted in persistent/significant disability/incapacity; resulted in/prolonged an existing in-patient hospitalization; was a congenital anomaly/birth defect; or was a medically important condition. An AE was considered as 'treatment emergent' if it occurred after the first drug administration of each period or if it was present prior to drug administration but exacerbated after the drug administration. TEAEs included both Serious TEAEs and non-serious TEAEs.
4. Double Blind Period: Time to First Grade 3 or 4 Hematological Toxicity or Liver Toxicity [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   Time to first Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity or liver toxicity (lymphocytes, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell, neutrophils, white blood cells, hemoglobin, Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Platelets and Bilirubin) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. According to CTCAE v 4.0: Grade 1=mild, Grade 2=moderate, Grade 3=severe, Grade 4=life threatening or disabling and Grade 5=Death. 10th and 20th percentiles estimated from Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Due to the small number of events, estimates from Kaplan-Meier survival curves could only be derived for lower percentiles. The median (50th percentile) could not be estimated if less than 50% of the participants had an event during the time of the study. Accordingly, lower percentiles are presented according to the number of events observed.
5. Double Blind Period: Time to Recovery From Grade 3 or 4 Hematological Toxicity [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   Time to recovery from grade 3 or 4 hematological were reported: lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophils, white blood cells and hemoglobin. According to CTCAE v 4.0: Grade 1=mild, Grade 2=moderate, Grade 3=severe, Grade 4=life threatening or disabling and Grade 5=Death. Recovery" as "Recovery from a Grade 3 or 4 toxicity is defined as a return to a Grade 0 or 1.
6. Double Blind Period: Mean Changes in Lymphocytes, White Blood Cells (WBC), Neutrophils and Platelets Values From Baseline to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
   Mean changes in lymphocytes, WBC, neutrophils and platelets from baseline to week 96 were reported.
7. Double Blind Period: Maximum Corrected QT Interval (QTc) [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   Criteria for potential clinical concern in ECG parameters: Maximum corrected QT interval (QTc) in range of 450 to less than 480 millisecond (msec).
8. Double Blind Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
   Mean change from baseline in vital signs- systolic and diastolic blood pressure was reported.
9. Double Blind Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Pulse Rate [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
   Mean change from baseline in vital signs- Pulse Rate was reported.
10. Double Blind Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Weight [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean change from baseline in vital signs- weight was reported.
11. Double Blind Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Temperature [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean change from baseline in vital signs- temperature was reported.
12. Double Blind Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Electrocardiogram (ECG) Parameters- Heart Rate [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean change from baseline in ECG parameters- Heart Rate was reported.
13. Double Blind Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Electrocardiogram (ECG) Parameters- PR, RR, QRS and OT Interval [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean change from baseline in ECG parameters- PR, RR, QRS and OT interval was reported.
14. Double Blind Period: Mean Changes From Baseline in Hemoglobin Level to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean changes in hemoglobin level from baseline to week 96 was reported.
15. Double Blind Period: Mean Changes From Baseline in CD4+ Count, CD8+ Count, and CD19+ to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean changes CD4+ Count, CD8+ Count, and CD19+ from baseline to Week 96 were reported.
16. Double Blind Period: Mean Changes From Baseline in Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean changes in ALT and AST from baseline to week 96 were reported.
17. Open Label Extension Period: Maximum Corrected QT Interval (Qtc) [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
    Criteria for potential clinical concern in ECG parameters: Maximum corrected QT interval (QTc) in range of 450 to less than 480 millisecond (msec).
18. Open Label Extension Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 72 ]
    Mean change from baseline in vital signs- systolic and diastolic blood pressure was reported.
19. Open Label Extension Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Pulse Rate [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 72 ]
    Mean change from baseline in vital signs- Pulse Rate was reported.
20. Open Label Extension Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Weight [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 72 ]
    Mean change from baseline in vital signs- weight was reported.
21. Open Label Extension Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Vital Signs- Temperature [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 72 ]
    Mean change from baseline in vital signs- temperature was reported.
22. Open Label Extension Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Electrocardiogram (ECG) Parameters- Heart Rate [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 72 ]
    Mean change from baseline in ECG parameters- Heart Rate was reported.
23. Open Label Extension Period: Mean Change From Baseline in Electrocardiogram (ECG) Parameters- PR, RR, QRS and OT Interval [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 72 ]
    Mean change from baseline in ECG parameters- PR, RR, QRS and OT interval was reported.
24. OLE and Safety Follow-up Period: Percentage of Participants With Grade 3 or 4 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] v 4.0) Hematological or Liver Toxicity [ Time Frame: Baseline (OLEP) up to Week 96 ]
    Percentage of participants with Grade 3 or 4 CTCAE v 4.0 toxicity on the following hematology and liver function parameters were reported: lymphocytes, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell, neutrophils, white blood cells, hemoglobin, Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Platelets and Bilirubin. According to CTCAE v 4.0: Grade 1=mild, Grade 2=moderate, Grade 3=severe, Grade 4=life threatening or disabling and Grade 5=Death.
25. OLE and Safety Follow-up Period: Percentage of Participants With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) in Infections and Infestations System Organ Class (SOC) [ Time Frame: Baseline (OLEP) up to Week 96 ]
    An Adverse event (AE) was defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease associated with the use of study drug, whether or not considered related to the study drug or worsening of pre-existing medical condition, whether or not related to study drug. A serious adverse event (SAE) was an AE that resulted in any of the following outcomes: death; life threatening; persistent/significant disability/incapacity; initial or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; congenital anomaly/birth defect or was otherwise considered medically important. An AE was considered as 'treatment emergent' if it occurred after the first drug administration of each period or if it was present prior to drug administration but exacerbated after the drug administration.TEAEs were entered in infections and infestations SOC as per medical dictionary for regulatory activities (MedDRA) version 11.0
26. OLE and Safety Follow-up Period: Number of Participants With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and Serious TEAEs [ Time Frame: Baseline (OLEP) up to Week 96 ]
    An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in the form of signs, symptoms, abnormal laboratory findings, or diseases that emerges or worsens relative to baseline during a clinical study with an Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP), regardless of causal relationship and even if no IMP has been administered. SAE: Any AE that resulted in death; was life threatening; resulted in persistent/significant disability/incapacity; resulted in/prolonged an existing in-patient hospitalization; was a congenital anomaly/birth defect; or was a medically important condition. An AE was considered as 'treatment emergent' if it occurred after the first drug administration of each period or if it was present prior to drug administration but exacerbated after the drug administration. TEAEs included both Serious TEAEs and non-serious TEAEs.
27. Open Label Extension Period: Time to First Grade 3 or 4 Hematological Toxicity or Liver Toxicity [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
    Time to first Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity or liver toxicity (lymphocytes, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4+) cell, neutrophils, white blood cells, hemoglobin, Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Platelets and Bilirubin) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. According to CTCAE v 4.0: Grade 1=mild, Grade 2=moderate, Grade 3=severe, Grade 4=life threatening or disabling and Grade 5=Death. 10th and 20th percentiles estimated from Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Due to the small number of events, estimates from Kaplan-Meier survival curves could only be derived for lower percentiles. The median (50th percentile) could not be estimated if less than 50% of the participants had an event during the time of the study. Accordingly, lower percentiles are presented according to the number of events observed.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Double Blind Period: Number of Combined Unique Active (CUA) Lesions, Active Time Constant 2 (T2) Lesions, and Time Constant 1 (T1) Gadolinium Enhanced (Gd+) Lesions Per Participant Per Scan [ Time Frame: Week 96 ]
   Number of CUA lesions, active T2 lesions, and T1 Gd+ lesions were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
2. Double Blind Period: Mean Number of T1 Hypointense Lesions Per Participant Per Scan at Week 96 [ Time Frame: Week 96 ]
   Mean number of T1 hypointense lesions per participant per scan at 96 weeks were reported. T1 hypointense lesions were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
3. Double Blind Period: Percentage of Participants With no Active T2 Lesions at Week 96 [ Time Frame: Week 96 ]
   Percentage of participants with no active T2 lesions at week 96 were reported. Active T2 lesions were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
4. Double Blind Period: Percentage of Participants With no Active T1 Gd-Enhanced Lesions at Week 96 [ Time Frame: Week 96 ]
   Percentage of participants with no active T1 Gd-enhanced lesions at week 96 were reported. Active T1 Gd-Enhanced lesions were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
5. Double Blind Period: Mean Change in T2 Lesion Volume From Baseline to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
   Mean change in T2 lesion volume From baseline to Week 96 were reported. T2 lesions were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
6. Double Blind Period: Percent Change in Normalized Brain Volume From Baseline to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
   Brain volume was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain. Percent change in normalized brain volume from baseline to week 96 was reported.
7. Double Blind Period: Mean Change in T1 Hypointense Lesion Volume From Baseline to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
   Mean change in T1 hypointense lesion volume from baseline to week 96 was reported. T1 Hypointense lesions were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
8. Double Blind Period: Annualized Qualifying Relapse Rate [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   A qualifying relapse was defined as a 2-grade increase in at least one, or a 1-grade increase in at least two, Kurtzke Functional Systems excluding bowel/bladder or cognition changes, in the absence of fever lasting more than or equal to 24 hours, and preceded by more than or equal to 30 days of clinical stability or improvement. The annualized relapse rate for each treatment group was the mean of the annualized relapse rates for all the participants in the group, calculated as the total number of confirmed relapses divided by the total number of days on study multiplied by 365.25.
9. Double Blind Period: Percentage of Participants Qualifying Relapse-free [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
   A qualifying relapse was defined as a 2-grade increase in 1 or more Kurtzke Functional Systems (KFS) or a 1-grade increase in 2 or more KFS, excluding changes in bowel/bladder or cognition, in the absence of fever, lasting for >= 24 hours, and preceded by at least 30 days of clinical stability or improvement. Percentage of participants qualifying relapse-free were reported.
10. Double Blind Period and OLE Period: Time to 3-Month Sustained Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Progression [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
    EDSS progression is based on a standardized neurological exam and focuses on symptoms that commonly occur in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Overall scores ranges from 0.0 (normal) to 10.0 (death due to MS). A sustained progression on EDSS score was defined as an EDSS progression confirmed into two consecutive assessment. Time to sustained disability progression was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. 10th and 20th percentiles estimated from Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Due to the small number of events, estimates from Kaplan-Meier survival curves could only be derived for lower percentiles. The median (50th percentile) could not be estimated if less than 50% of the participants had an event during the time of the study. Accordingly, lower percentiles are presented according to the number of events observed.
11. Double Blind Period and OLE Period: Time to First Qualifying Relapse [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 96 ]
    A qualifying relapse was defined as a 2-grade increase in at least one, or a 1-grade increase in at least two, Kurtzke Functional Systems excluding bowel/bladder or cognition changes, in the absence of fever lasting more than or equal to 24 hours, and preceded by more than or equal to 30 days of clinical stability or improvement. Time to first qualifying relapse were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. 10th and 20th percentiles estimated from Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Due to the small number of events, estimates from Kaplan-Meier survival curves could only be derived for lower percentiles. The median (50th percentile) could not be estimated if less than 50% of the participants had an event during the time of the study. Accordingly, lower percentiles are presented according to the number of events observed.
12. Double Blind Period: Mean Change in New T1 Gd+ Lesions From Baseline to Week 96 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 96 ]
    Mean change in new T1 Gd+ lesions from baseline to week 96 was reported.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be male or female, 18 to 65 years of age (inclusive)
• Weigh between 40 to 120 kilogram (kg), (inclusive)
• Have definite MS, as confirmed by the revised McDonald criteria 2005, and have relapsing forms of MS, such as relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) or SPMS with superimposed relapses
• Have experienced at least one relapse within 48 weeks prior to Screening, while receiving IFN-beta treatments (Rebif® 44mcg three times a week, subcutaneously; Avonex®30 mcg every week, intramuscular; or Betaseron® 250 mcg every other day, subcutaneously)
• Have a minimum time on IFN-beta therapy of 48-consecutive weeks prior to Screening. Participants who switched from one IFN-beta therapy to another in the 48 weeks preceding Screening may be entered into the study if they have been on a stable regimen of their current IFN-beta therapy for a minimum of 3 months prior to Screening
• Be clinically stable (other than MS relapse) during the 28 days preceding Screening

• The following hematological parameters must be normal (as defined below, inclusively) within 28 days of first dosing of blinded study medication at study day 1 (SD 1)

  • Hemoglobin=11.6 to 16.2 gram per deciliter (g/dL)
  • Leukocytes (total white blood cells [WBC])=4.1 to 12.3*10^3 per microliter (/UL)
  • Absolute lymphocytes count (ALC)= 1.02 to 3.36*10^3/UL
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)=2.03 to 8.36*10^3/UL
  • Platelet count=140 to 450*10^3/UL
• Have no medical history or evidence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) or active tubercular disease (TB), as evidenced by TB skin test or chest X-ray
• Have an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) from 1.0-5.5, inclusive
• Have no prior exposure to immunosuppressive or cytotoxic agents (with the exception of steroids for MS flare management, or intravenous immunoglobulin-G [IVIG] after allowed wash-out periods

• If female, must:

  • be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding, nor attempting to conceive, and
  • use a highly effective method of contraception throughout the entire duration of the study and for 6 months (6 menstrual cycles) following completion of the last dose of study medication. A highly effective method of contraception is defined as one which result in a low failure rate (that is, less than 1 percent per year) when used consistently and correctly, such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some intrauterine devices (IUDs), sexual abstinence or a vasectomized partner. For the purpose of this trial, women of childbearing potential are defined as: All female participants after puberty unless they are post-menopausal for at least 2 years, or are surgically sterile
• If male, must be willing to use contraception to avoid pregnancies throughout the entire duration of the study and for 90 days following the last dose of study medication
• Be willing and able to comply with study procedures for the duration of the study
• Have not met any of the exclusion criteria outlined below; and
• Have voluntarily provided written informed consent, including, for United states of America (USA), participant authorization under Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), prior to any study-related procedure that is not part of normal medical care, and with the understanding that the participant may withdraw consent at any time without prejudice to future medical care
• Other protocol defined inclusion criteria may apply

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) or SPMS without relapses forms
• Has prior or current malignancy other than medically documented complete excision of basal cell skin cancer no less than 5 years prior to Screening
• Has a history of chronic or clinically significant hematological abnormalities
• Prior use of cladribine, fingolimod, teriflunimide, laquinimod, mitoxantrone, campath-1h, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, daclizumab, natalizumab, lymphoid irradiation, bone marrow transplantation or myelosuppressive/cytotoxic therapy
• Use of cytokine or anti-cytokine therapy or plasmapheresis within 3 months prior to SD 1
• Treatment with IVIG within 30 days of Screening
• Treatment with oral or parenteral corticosteroids 30 days of Screening
• Treatment with adrenocorticotropic hormone within 28 days prior to SD 1
• Use of any investigational drug (other than Rebif® New Formulation [RNF], Avonex® or Betaferon®) or experimental procedure within 6 months prior to SD 1
• Has inadequate liver function, defined by a total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or alkaline phosphatase greater than 2.5 times the upper limit of the normal values
• Suffers from major medical illness such as cardiac, endocrinologic, hepatic, immunologic (other than MS), metabolic, renal, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, dermatologic, or other major disease that would preclude the administration of oral cladribine
• Suffers from major psychiatric illness (including history of, or current, severe depressive disorders and/or suicidal ideation) that in the opinion of the investigator creates undue risk to the participant or could affect compliance with the study protocol
• Has history of active or chronic infectious disease or any disease which compromises immune function (for example, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]+, human T-lymphotropic virus [HTLV-1], Lyme disease, LTBI or TB)
• Has an allergy or hypersensitivity to gadolinium, to cladribine or any of its excipients, or IFN-beta or any of its excipient(s)
• Has any renal condition that would preclude the administration of gadolinium (for example, acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency [glomerular filtration rate less than 30 milliliter per minute {mL/min} per 1.73 square meter {m^2}])
• Has a positive stool hemoccult test at Screening
• Has a history of seizures not adequately controlled by treatment

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Alabama

Research Site

Cullman, Alabama, United States

United States, Arizona

Research Site

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Research Site

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

United States, California

Research Site

Los Angeles, California, United States

United States, Colorado

Research Site

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Research Site

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

United States, Florida

Research Site

Tampa, Florida, United States

United States, Georgia

Research Site

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

United States, Illinois

Research Site

Peoria, Illinois, United States

United States, Massachusetts

Research Site

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

United States, Missouri

Research Site

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

United States, New Jersey

Research Site

Newark, New Jersey, United States

United States, New Mexico

Research Site

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

United States, North Carolina

Research Site

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Research Site

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

United States, Pennsylvania

Research Site

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States

Research Site

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

United States, Tennessee

Research Site

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

United States, Texas

Research Site

Houston, Texas, United States

Research Site

Round Rock, Texas, United States

United States, Vermont

Research Site

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Italy

Research Site

Fidenza, Italy

Research Site

Milan, Italy

Research Site

Napoli, Italy

Research Site

Rome, Italy

Russian Federation

Research Site

Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation

Research Site

Kazan, Russian Federation

Research Site

Moscow, Russian Federation

Research Site

Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

Research Site

Samara, Russian Federation

Research Site

Smolensk, Russian Federation

Research Site

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Spain

Research Site

Alicante, Spain

Research site

Barcelona, Spain

Research Site

Bilbao, Spain

Research Site

Madrid, Spain

Research Site

Malaga, Spain

Research Site

Santiago, Spain

Research Site

Seville, Spain

Sponsors and Collaborators

EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc.

Investigators

• Study Director: Medical Responsible; Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

More Information

Additional Information:

Trial Awareness and Transparency website 

US Medical Information website, Medical Resources 

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Giovannoni G, Galazka A, Schick R, Leist T, Comi G, Montalban X, Damian D, Dangond F, Cook S. Pregnancy Outcomes During the Clinical Development Program of Cladribine in Multiple Sclerosis: An Integrated Analysis of Safety. Drug Saf. 2020 Jul;43(7):635-643. doi: 10.1007/s40264-020-00948-x.

Montalban X, Leist TP, Cohen BA, Moses H, Campbell J, Hicking C, Dangond F. Cladribine tablets added to IFN-beta in active relapsing MS: The ONWARD study. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2018 Jul 11;5(5):e477. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000477. eCollection 2018 Sep.

• Responsible Party: EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc.
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00436826
• Other Study ID Numbers: 26593; 2006-003366-33 ( EudraCT Number )
• First Posted: February 19, 2007
• Results First Posted: July 1, 2013
• Last Update Posted: October 12, 2020
• Last Verified: October 2020

Keywords provided by EMD Serono ( EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. ):

Multiple Sclerosis; Relapsing forms; Interferon-beta therapy

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Multiple Sclerosis; Sclerosis; Pathologic Processes; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Nervous System Diseases; Demyelinating Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Interferons; Interferon-beta; Cladribine; Interferon beta-1b; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiviral Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Immunologic Factors; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Immunosuppressive Agents; Adjuvants, Immunologic