2017 Review: Relapsing-Remitting MS and Primary Progressive MS

Interventions of Interest:

Injectable Agents

  • Daclizumab (Zinbryta®, Biogen/AbbVie)
  • Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®, Teva)
  • Glatiramer acetate (Glatopa®, Sandoz (Novartis))
  • Interferon beta-1a (Avonex®, Biogen)
  • Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron®, Bayer)
  • Interferon beta-1b (Extavia®, Novartis)
  • Interferon beta-1a (Rebif®, EMD Serono)
  • Peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy®, Biogen)

Oral Agents

  • Dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera®, Biogen)
  • Fingolimod (Gilenya®, Novartis)
  • Teriflunomide (Aubagio®, Sanofi-Genzyme)

Infused Agents

  • Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada®, Sanofi-Genzyme)
  • Natalizumab (Tysabri®, Biogen)
  • Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus®, Roche/Genentech)
  • Rituximab (Rituxan®, Roche/Genentech)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. About 400,000 Americans have MS,although this may be an underestimate. The disease affects about three times as many women as men and some patient groups, such as African Americans, experience a more rapid and severe clinical course. Our review looks at two types of multiple sclerosis: relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and primary-progressive (PPMS). RRMS affects about 85-90% of patients with MS, while PPMS affects about 10-15%. Patients with RRMS, experience periodic relapses in symptoms which may improve with treatment, while those with PPMS experience steadily worsening symptoms.

Key policy recommendations from the March 2017 public meeting called on manufacturers to cease price increases and payers to ease coverage restrictions and lower out-of-pocket costs if drug prices align with benefits.

For questions, contact info@icer.org. 

View the Key Stakeholders List.


Final Documents

Below you will find the final documents from the assessment review process:

Public CommentsDownload
Response to Public CommentsDownload
Report-At-A-Glance (English)Download
Report-At-A-Glance (Spanish)Download
Final Evidence Report and Meeting SummaryDownload

ICER’s President Steve Pearson, MD, MSc stated:

“Evidence on DMTs for MS shows that they offer important clinical benefits for patients in terms of reduced relapse rates and delayed disability progression. We agree with the view expressed by many patients and patient groups: despite important treatment advances, the health care system is broken for MS patients. High prices and regular price increases contribute significantly to restrictions on coverage and access that make it difficult for patients to get the medications they need. It will take concerted effort on the part of all stakeholders to bring prices into alignment with each drug’s clinical benefit, ease coverage restrictions once prices have come down, and move towards a system that better meets the needs of the diverse population of individuals living with MS.”