New publication from the MultipleMS cohort provides insights into MS treatment outcomes
After many years of hard work across nine centres in Europe, first through the MultipleMS project and now through the WISDOM project, we are pleased to announce the first publication using data collected through the MultipleMS prospective cohort.
The prospective MultipleMS study followed 509 people with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS), who had not previously received disease-modifying treatment, from baseline through two years of follow-up. Participants were recruited across nine European centres, providing valuable real-world insights into treatment choices and outcomes during the early stages of MS.
The researchers compared different treatment approaches and assessed a range of outcomes, including relapses, MRI measures of disease activity, blood-based biomarkers and disability.
The findings provide new insights into how treatment choices may influence disease activity in the early stages of MS. In particular, B-cell-depleting therapies were associated with a lower relapse rate and reduced MRI lesion volume compared with oral platform therapies. People receiving B-cell-depleting therapies were also more likely to remain on their initial treatment after two years.
At the same time, the study highlights the complexity of MS and the importance of looking beyond individual measures of disease activity. No significant differences between treatment groups were observed in disability outcomes after two years, underlining the need for longer-term follow-up and comprehensive approaches to evaluating treatment outcomes.
Why this matters for WISDOM?
The publication represents an important milestone in the work that began with the MultipleMS project. The extensive data collected through this prospective cohort now provide an important foundation for further research and innovation.
Building on this work, the WISDOM project is exploring how digital and AI-based approaches can support more personalised and informed MS care. The availability of high-quality longitudinal data is an important part of this process, helping researchers understand how different types of clinical information can contribute to better decision-making.
Importantly, technological innovation should complement, rather than replace, clinical expertise and the lived experience of people with MS. The WISDOM project therefore places patients and healthcare professionals at the centre of the development and evaluation of digital tools.
This first publication from the MultipleMS cohort is an important step in translating years of collaborative data collection and research into knowledge that can contribute to the future of personalised MS care.
Key highlights
- 509 participants with newly diagnosed MS
- 9 European centres involved
- 2 years of prospective follow-up
- B-cell-depleting therapies were associated with fewer relapses and less MRI lesion activity
- Treatment persistence was highest among people receiving B-cell-depleting therapies
- The study highlights the importance of long-term, comprehensive and personalised approaches to MS care
Read the full article, published in Neurology Open Access:
Read the editorial commenting on the results here:
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000178