Persistence, Discontinuations, and Refill Adherence
aAll patient information was anonymized, and patient confidentiality was maintained through compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Information on patients’ prior DMT use was based on pharmacy records.1
bAny unidentified AE that led to discontinuation within 90 days of starting VUMERITY was counted as a GI AE, to avoid underestimation of discontinuation rate.1
cPDC is widely accepted as a valid measure of patient adherence and is the preferred method for assessing adherence by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance for use in the Medicare plan Star Ratings.1,2
Study was funded by Biogen
Discontinuation rate and discontinuation due to GI adverse events | ||
---|---|---|
Overall (N =160) |
||
Characteristic |
n (%) |
95% CI |
Discontinued VUMERITY |
18 (11.3) |
6.7–17.8 |
Discontinued VUMERITY due to GI AE |
6d (3.8) |
1.4–8.2 |
Discontinuation rate and discontinuation due to GI adverse events | ||
---|---|---|
DMF-to-VUMERITY |
||
Characteristic |
n (%) |
95% CI |
Discontinued VUMERITY |
2 (7.7) |
0.9–27.8 |
Discontinued VUMERITY due to GI AE |
1e,f (3.8) |
0.1–21.4 |
Discontinuation rate and discontinuation due to GI adverse events | ||
---|---|---|
Overall (N =160) |
DMF-to-VUMERITY |
|
Characteristic |
n (%) 95% CI |
n (%) 95% CI |
Discontinued VUMERITY |
18 (11.3) 6.7–17.8 |
2 (7.7) 0.9–27.8 |
Discontinued VUMERITY due to GI AE |
6d (3.8) 1.4–8.2 |
1e,f (3.8) 0.1–21.4 |
dIn the overall population, the other non–GI-related reasons for DRF treatment discontinuation included “other AE” (n=11) and “Physician Decision – Pursuing Alternate Therapy” (n=1).1
eThe 1 patient in the DMF-to-DRF subgroup who discontinued DRF due to GI AEs had also discontinued prior DMF due to GI AE at 60 days after DMF initiation. After switching to DRF, the patient was treated for 30 days prior to discontinuing.1
fIn the DMF-to-DRF subgroup, the other non–GI-related reasons for DRF treatment discontinuation included “other AE” (n=1).1
Study was funded by Biogen
Study was funded by Biogen
Patient demographics and baseline characteristics (N=160) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Age, years |
US regiong |
||
Median (range) |
51 (20–79) |
Northeast |
19 (11.9) |
Age <55 years |
100 (62.5) |
Midwest |
42 (26.3) |
Age ≥55 years |
60 (37.5) |
South |
63 (39.4) |
Female |
129 (80.6) |
West |
36 (22.5) |
MS diagnosis |
|
No prior DMTh |
131 (81.9) |
Confirmed by ICD-10-CM code for MS |
124 (77.5) |
Prior DMT |
|
Inferred by drug therapy classification of MS |
36 (22.5) |
Interferon |
5 (3.1) |
|
|
Teriflunomide |
1 (0.6) |
|
|
Dimethyl fumarate |
26 (16.3) |
|
|
DRF treatment duration, months, median (range) |
7.6 (0.1–10.4) |
Patient demographics and baseline characteristics (N=160) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Age, years |
|||
Median (range) |
51 (20–79) |
||
Age <55 years |
100 (62.5) |
||
Age ≥55 years |
60 (37.5) |
||
Female |
129 (80.6) |
||
MS diagnosis |
|
||
Confirmed by ICD-10-CM code for MS |
124 (77.5) |
||
Inferred by drug therapy classification of MS |
36 (22.5) |
Patient demographics and baseline characteristics (N=160) | |||
---|---|---|---|
US regiong |
|||
Northeast |
19 (11.9) |
||
Midwest |
42 (26.3) |
||
South |
63 (39.4) |
||
West |
36 (22.5) |
||
No prior DMTh |
131 (81.9) |
||
Prior DMT |
|||
Interferon |
5 (3.1) |
||
Teriflunomide |
1 (0.6) |
||
Dimethyl fumarate |
26 (16.3) |
||
DRF treatment duration, months, median (range) |
7.6 (0.1–10.4) |
All values reported as n (%) unless otherwise indicated.
gRegional breakdown based on 2020 US Census categories for region.1
hBased on pharmacy records.1
Study was funded by Biogen