MAVENCLAD Shows Promise in Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccines

Strategic Insights -

Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) who were treated with MAVENCLAD (cladribine tablets) exhibited a unique immune repopulation pattern, allowing them to mount responses to influenza and varicella zoster vaccines, even with low lymphocyte counts. A recent study published in Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders found that patients who had taken MAVENCLAD developed a protective SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech, with 23 out of 23 patients showing a positive antibody titer. The ability to generate an adequate immune response is crucial for patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • Patients with RMS treated with MAVENCLAD showed a specific immune repopulation pattern, which may contribute to their ability to fight infections and develop protective antibodies from vaccines.
  • Reduction of memory B cells occurred as early as one month after MAVENCLAD initiation, while naive B cells began recovering immediately.
  • Patients who received MAVENCLAD were able to mount responses to influenza and varicella zoster vaccines, irrespective of lymphocyte count.
  • In an independent study, 23 out of 23 patients with RMS who took MAVENCLAD developed a protective SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech, administered 4.4 months after last MAVENCLAD dosing.
  • The ability to mount an adequate immune response was independent of lymphocyte count, and no unexpected safety findings were identified after the first and second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.
  • An updated post-approval safety analysis found that MAVENCLAD-treated patients had a similar disease course with COVID-19 compared to the general population, with most patients experiencing mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and no requirement for mechanical ventilation.

Statistics:

  • 23 out of 23 patients with RMS who took MAVENCLAD developed a protective SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech.
  • Patients with RMS treated with MAVENCLAD showed a significant reduction in memory B cells as early as one month after initiation, with lowest levels sustained for up to 12 months.
  • The median SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody response in MAVENCLAD-treated patients was 7.0, which is similar to the comparison group of MS patients not receiving any immunomodulatory treatments and healthy subjects.

Sources:

  • "Merck KGaA. New Analysis from MAGNIFY-MS Sub-Study Shows MAVENCLAD May Contribute to Immune Response to Vaccines in Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. Press Release. April 23, 2021."
  • "Achiron, A., et al. (2021). Generation of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in multiple sclerosis patients treated with cladribine after the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders, 14, 1–7."
  • "Multiple Sclerosis Journal. No Unexpected Safety Findings Post First and Second Dose of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccination in MS Patients. Publication Number: 0000000083, DOI: 10.1177/1352458521996842, Volume 27, Issue 6, 2021."