Persistence, Discontinuations, and Refill Adherence

A real-world study evaluating VUMERITY persistence, discontinuation rates, and refill adherence1

16-month study results

Limitations and disclosures

  • The AcariaHealth SPP lacks detailed baseline data required for comparative analyses vs other DMTs. Also, the exact MS subtype cannot be discerned from this database2
  • While PDC measures timely refilling and whether the patient has access to the drug, it cannot definitively determine if a patient is taking each dose of medication as directed2
  • Short follow-up period (median duration of VUMERITY treatment was 7.1 months)1

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.2

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.2

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.2

High rates of persistence, low discontinuation rates due to GI AEs, and high rates of refill adherence in a real-world study1

82.3% of patients remained persistent on VUMERITY over 16 months

Persistence to VUMERITY in the overall study population

  • Dashed lines represent 95% confidence intervals.1

Study was funded by Biogen.

4.5% discontinuation rate due to GI AEs with VUMERITY in the overall study population1

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
subgroup (n=26)

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

Treatment discontinuation rate and discontinuation due to GI AEs

Discontinuation rate and discontinuation due to GI adverse events

Overall (N =160)

DMF-to-VUMERITY
subgroup (n=26)

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

  • Only 15 of the 433 patients (3.5%) who switched from DMF to VUMERITY discontinued VUMERITY due to GI AEse
  • 41.6% (37/89) of patients who switched from DMF to VUMERITY for a known reason did so due to GI tolerability issuese

>90% of the patients who switched to VUMERITY from DMF stayed on VUMERITY at the time of the study1

dIn the overall population, other non- GI-related reasons for DRF treatment discontinuation included “other AE” (n=69), “physician decision–pursuing alternate therapy” (n=9), “lack of efficacy” (n=6), and “patient decision–pursuing alternate therapy” (n=1).

eIn the DMF-to-DRF subgroup, other non- GI-related reasons for DRF treatment discontinuation included “other AE” (n=14) and “lack of efficacy” (n=2).

Study was funded by Biogen.

Patients on VUMERITY demonstrated high rates of refill adherence
by PDC in the overall population1

PDC is the preferred method for assessing adherence by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance for use in the Medicare plan Star Ratings2

Study was funded by Biogen.

The study population consisted of real-world VUMERITY patients

75.2% of patients were women, and the median age was 51 years

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)

  • Patients were treated for a median duration of 7.1 months

fRegional breakdown based on 2020 US Census categories for region.2

gBased on pharmacy records.1

Study was funded by Biogen.