Glatiramer acetate or IFN-β bridging therapy in women with relapsing multiple sclerosis planning a pregnancy

Abstract

Aim: To assess bridging glatiramer acetate (GA) or IFN-β for relapse prevention in women with relapsing multiple sclerosis planning pregnancy. Materials & methods: Participants discontinued disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and received GA/IFN (early- or delayed-start) or no DMT (control) until pregnancy. Results: Annualized relapse rate was lower in delayed-start GA/IFN cohort versus control during washout/bridging. During washout/bridging, bridging with GA/IFN in this cohort reduced clinical activity, while disease activity increased in controls versus baseline. Conclusion: More data on GA/IFN bridging are needed. Women with low relapsing multiple sclerosis activity in the year prior to DMT discontinuation due to pregnancy planning benefited from GA/IFN bridging with lower annualized relapse rate versus no treatment and reduced clinical activity versus baseline during washout/bridging and pregnancy.