A Safety and Efficacy Study of Oral Cladribine in Subjects With Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS)

Phase 3

Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting

Interventions: Drug: Cladribine 5.25 mg/kg
Drug: Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg
Other: Placebo

Registration Number: NCT00213135

Lead Sponsor: EMD Serono

Brief Summary: The purpose of the study is to determine if cladribine tablets are a safe and effective treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Detailed Description: This is a randomized, double-blind, three-arm, placebo-controlled, multi-center study. The study includes a pre-study evaluation period (up to 28 days prior to the start of treatment); an initial treatment period from Week 1 to 48; and a re-treatment period during Week 49 to 96.

During the initial treatment period (Week 1 to 48), eligible subjects are equally randomized by a central randomization system to receive either a) cladribine at a low dose (0.875 milligram per kilogram per course \[mg/kg/course\] for two courses plus placebo for two courses); b) cladribine at a high dose (0.875 mg/kg/course for four courses); or c) placebo (four courses). During the re-treatment period (Weeks 49 to 96), subjects received either a) cladribine at a low dose (0.875 mg/kg/course for two courses); or b) placebo (two courses).

For all randomized subjects, there is a rescue option of treatment with Rebif® (interferon beta-1a 44 microgram (mcg) given subcutaneously three times a week), if the subject experienced more than one qualifying relapse, and/or experienced a sustained increase in their EDSS score of greater than or equal to (\>=) 1 point, or \>=1.5 points if baseline EDSS score is 0, (over a period of three months or greater), during a calendar year beginning at Week 24.

To maintain the blind, there is a treating physician who view clinical laboratory results and assess adverse events and safety information, and an independent blinded evaluating physician who will perform neurological exams. A central neuroradiology center, also blinded to treatment, will assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 1326

Inclusion Criteria

Male or female, between 18 and 65 years of age (inclusive, at time of informed consent)
Has definite MS according to the McDonald criteria
Has relapsing-remitting disease with 1 or more relapses within 12 months prior to Study Day 1
Must have been clinically stable and not has a relapse within 28 days prior to Study Day 1
Has MRI consistent with MS at the pre-study evaluation according to the Fazekas criteria
Has a EDSS score from 0 to 5.5, inclusive
Weighed between 40-120 kilogram (kg), inclusive
If female, she must:
1. be post-menopausal or surgically sterilized; or
2. uses a hormonal contraceptive, intra uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide, or condom with spermicide, for the duration of the study; and
3. be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding
If male, he must be willing to use contraception to avoid pregnancies
Be willing and able to comply with study procedures for the duration of the study
Voluntarily provides written informed consent, and for United states of America (USA) sites only, a subject authorization under Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Exclusion Criteria

Has secondary progressive MS (SPMS) or primary progressive MS (PPMS)
Prior use of disease modifying drugs (DMDs) within the last 3 months, or 2 or more prior treatment failures with DMDs on the basis of efficacy
Has significant leukopenia (white blood cell count less than 0.5 times the lower limit of normal of the central laboratory) within 28 days prior to Study Day 1
Has received cladribine, mitoxantrone, total lymphoid irradiation, myelosuppressive therapy, campath-1h, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate or natalizumab
Has received oral or systemic corticosteroids or adrenocorticotropic hormone within 28 days prior to Study Day 1
Has compromised immune function or infection
Has received oral or systemic corticosteroids or adrenocorticotropic hormone within 28 days prior to Study Day 1
Has received cytokine-based therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, or plasmapheresis within 3 months prior to Study Day 1
Has platelet and absolute neutrophil counts below the lower limit of normal range within 28 days prior to Study Day 1
Has prior or current history of malignancy
Has a history of persistent anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia after immunosuppressive therapy
Has systemic disease that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might interfere with subject safety, compliance or evaluation of the condition under Study (for example, insulin-dependent diabetes, Lyme disease, clinically significant cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or Human T-Cell Lymphotrophic Virus Type-1)
Has a psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the Investigator, was unstable or would preclude safe participation in the study
Has allergy or hypersensitivity to gadolinium, to cladribine or any of its excipients
Has used any investigational drug or experimental procedure within 6 months prior to Study Day 1

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Cladribine 5.25 mg/kg	Cladribine 5.25 mg/kg	-
Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg	Cladribine 3.5 mg/kg	-
Placebo	Placebo	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Annualized Qualifying Relapse Rate	Week 96	A qualifying relapse was defined as an increase of 2 points in at least one functional system of the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) or an increase of 1 point in at least two functional systems (excluding changes in bowel or bladder function or cognition) in the absence of fever, lasting for at least 24 hours and to have been preceded by at least 30 days of clinical stability or improvement. Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) assesses disability in 8 functional systems. An overall score ranging from 0 (normal) to 10 (death due to multiple sclerosis \[MS\]) was calculated. The annualized relapse rate for each treatment group was calculated as the total number of confirmed relapses divided by the total number of days on study multiplied by 365.25.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time to Disability Progression	Baseline up to Week 96	Time to disability progression was defined as the time to a sustained increase in EDSS score of at least 1 point if baseline EDSS score between 0.5 and 4.5 inclusively, or at least 1.5 points if the baseline EDSS score was 0, or at least 0.5 point if the baseline EDSS score was at least 5, over a period of at least three months. Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) assesses disability in 8 functional systems. An overall score ranging from 0 (normal) to 10 (death due to MS) was calculated. Tenth Percentile of time to sustained increase in EDSS score was reported using Kaplan-Meier survival curve.
Mean Number of Combined Unique (CU) Lesions, Active Time Constant 2 (T2) Lesions, and Active Time Constant 1 (T1) Gadolinium-Enhanced (Gd+) Lesions Per Participant Per Scan	Week 96	Mean Number of CU lesions, active T2 lesions, and active T1 Gd+ lesions were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Percentage of Relapse-free Participants	Week 96	A qualifying relapse was defined as an increase of 2 points in at least one functional system of the EDSS or an increase of 1 point in at least two functional systems (excluding changes in bowel or bladder function or cognition) in the absence of fever, lasting for at least 24 hours and to have been preceded by at least 30 days of clinical stability or improvement. Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) assesses disability in 8 functional systems. An overall score ranging from 0 (normal) to 10 (death due to MS) was calculated.