Assessment of Tecfidera® in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) (ARISE)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02739542 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 15, 2016
Results First Posted : May 11, 2022
Last Update Posted : May 11, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Drug: Tecfidera Drug: Placebo | Phase 4 |
This is a multi-center, randomized, double-blinded study in which approximately 90 RIS (radiologically isolated syndrome) subjects will be treated with either Tecfidera or placebo for 2 years (1:1 randomization). Study participants, along with the treating and examining physicians, will be blinded to treatment assignment. Central Clinical and Imaging Units will screen all potential study subjects for inclusion/exclusion criteria. We expect to enroll all RIS subjects within the U.S.
Following informed consent and verification of entry criteria by the core units, study participants will be randomized 1:1 to either Tecfidera (120mg by mouth twice daily for 7 days with dose escalation to 240mg by mouth twice daily) or placebo. Clinical follow-up by the treating physician will occur at weeks 0, 48, 96, 144 and/or End of Study and during or immediately following clinical exacerbations. During clinical visits, comprehensive medical history data will be obtained by the treating physician. All reported acute or progressive clinical events will be adjudicated by the Central Clinical Unit. Clinical visits due to suspected exacerbations associated with CNS (central nervous system) demyelination, and associated diagnostic studies and treatments, will be covered under the medical standard of care by third party payers. A recommendation to re-evaluate the patient within 3 months following the clinical event to assess for extent of recovery will be made. In addition to the face-to-face visits described above, study participants will be contacted over the telephone at weeks 4, 8, 36, 60, 84, 108, and 132 to assess for medical or treatment difficulties and for study medication compliance. Standardized MRI studies of the brain will be performed at weeks 0, 96, 144 or End of Study. Clinical imaging studies of the brain and/or spinal cord performed during or immediately following the onset of a clinical exacerbation will be performed at the discretion of the site PI with scan costs covered under the medical standard of care. An end of study clinical MRI of the cervical spinal cord with and without contrast will be recommended to study participants at week 96 as medical standard of care.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 87 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blinded Assessment of Tecfidera® in Extending the Time to a First Attack in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) (ARISE) |
Actual Study Start Date : | March 19, 2016 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 31, 2021 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | March 31, 2021 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: Tecfidera
Tecfidera (120mg by mouth twice daily for 7 days with dose escalation to 240mg by mouth twice daily)
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Drug: Tecfidera
Blinded drug wallets will be dispensed during routine study appointments in 3 month supply, so that compliance can be reconciled at follow up visits and telephone consultations, and recorded in accountability logs.
Other Name: Dimethyl fumarate |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo by mouth twice daily.
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Drug: Placebo
Blinded drug wallets will be dispensed during routine study appointments in 3 month supply, so that compliance can be reconciled at follow up visits and telephone consultations, and recorded in accountability logs. |
- The Time From Randomization to the First Demyelinating Event (Acute or Development of an Initial Symptom Resulting in a Progressive Clinical Course) [ Time Frame: 96 weeks ]The primary outcome measure for this trial is the time to the first acute or progressive neurological event resulting from CNS demyelination from randomization into the trial.
- Change in Lesion Volume on T2-weighted MRI [ Time Frame: Baseline, 96 weeks ]Change in lesion volume on T2-weighted MRI is measured by follow-up MRI at 96 weeks in the placebo group and in the Tecfidera group.
- Number of Newly Enlarging T2 Lesions [ Time Frame: 96 weeks ]Number of newly enlarging T2 lesions is measured by follow-up MRI at 96 weeks in the placebo group and in the Tecfidera group.
- Number of New T2 Lesions [ Time Frame: 96 weeks ]Number of new T2 lesions as measured by follow-up MRI at 96 weeks in the placebo group and in the Tecfidera group.
- Newly Enlarging T2 Lesions and New T2 Lesions Combined [ Time Frame: 96 weeks ]Newly enlarging T2 lesions and new T2 lesions combined is measured by follow-up MRI at 96 weeks in the placebo group and in the Tecfidera group.
- Number of Contrast Enhancing Lesions [ Time Frame: 96 weeks ]Number of contrast enhancing lesions is measured by follow-up MRI at 96 weeks in the placebo group and in the Tecfidera group.
- Change in the Number of Participants With Brain Atrophy [ Time Frame: Baseline, 96 weeks ]Change in the number of participants with brain atrophy is measured by follow-up MRI at 96 weeks in the placebo group and in the Tecfidera group.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion criteria
- Males and females meeting 2009 RIS criteria
- Identified RIS cases with the initial MRI demonstrating anomalies suggestive of demyelinating disease dated > 2009
- Incidental anomalies identified on MRI of the brain or spinal cord with the primary reason for the acquired MRI resulting from an evaluation of a process other than MS
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CNS white matter anomalies meeting the following MRI criteria:
- Ovoid, well-circumscribed, and homogeneous foci with or without involvement of the corpus callosum
- T2-hyperintensities measuring > 3mm2 and fulfilling 3 of 4 Barkhof-Tintoré criteria for dissemination in space
- CNS anomalies not consistent with a vascular pattern
- Qualitative determination that CNS anomalies have a characteristic appearance of demyelinating lesions
- MRI anomalies do not account for clinically apparent neurological impairments in patients
Exclusion criteria
- Women who are pregnant or nursing
- Incomplete medical history or radiological data
- History of remitting clinical symptoms consistent with multiple sclerosis lasting > 24 hours prior to CNS imaging revealing anomalies suggestive of MS
- History of paroxysmal symptoms associated with MS (i.e. Lhermitte's or Uhthoff's phenomena)
- CNS MRI anomalies are better accounted for by another disease process
- The subject is unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements of the study protocol
- Exposure to a disease modifying therapy for MS/RIS within the past 3 months
- Exposure to high-dose glucocorticosteroid treatment within the past 30 days
- Participation in other clinical trials involving treatment with a disease-modifying agent

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02739542
United States, California | |
Keck School of Medicine - USC - Department of Neurology | |
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90089 | |
United States, Maryland | |
Johns Hopkins University - Neurology | |
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287 | |
United States, Minnesota | |
Mayo Clinic Department of Neurology | |
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905 | |
United States, Missouri | |
Washington University Department of Neurology | |
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110 | |
United States, Nevada | |
Cleveland Clinic - Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health | |
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89106 | |
United States, New York | |
MS Clinical Care and Research Center, Dept of Neurology, Columbia University | |
New York, New York, United States, 10032 | |
United States, Oklahoma | |
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, MS Center of Excellence | |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104 | |
United States, Texas | |
MS Treatment Center of Dallas | |
Dallas, Texas, United States, 75246 | |
UT Southwestern Medical Center | |
Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390-8806 | |
United States, Washington | |
Swedish Medical Center | |
Seattle, Washington, United States, 98122 | |
MultiCare Institute for Research and Innovation | |
Tacoma, Washington, United States, 98405 |
Principal Investigator: | Darin T Okuda, MD | UT Southwestern Medical Center |
Documents provided by Darin Okuda, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center:
Publications of Results:
Other Publications:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Darin Okuda, PROFESSOR, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02739542 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
102014-019 |
First Posted: | April 15, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | May 11, 2022 |
Last Update Posted: | May 11, 2022 |
Last Verified: | April 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) |
Multiple Sclerosis Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Demyelinating Diseases Autoimmune Diseases |
Immune System Diseases Dimethyl Fumarate Dermatologic Agents Immunosuppressive Agents Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs |