For people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, a new study has found that the drug ofatumumab is more effective than teriflunomide at helping people across different racial and ethnic groups reach a period of no disease activity. Ofatumumab, a monoclonal antibody, is a newer drug for treating MS. Teriflunomide, an immunomodulatory agent, has been available for over a decade.

MS is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks myelin, the fatty white substance that insulates and protects the nerves. Symptoms may include fatigue, numbness, tingling, or difficulty walking. Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common stage of the disease, marked by symptom flare-ups followed by periods of remission.

According to the study’s authors, ethnically diverse groups, including Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino, and Asian individuals, are consistently underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting the availability of data to help make the best treatment decisions for people in these groups. The researchers examined the efficacy and safety of ofatumumab in diverse populations, finding that overall, the drug was effective and safe across racial and ethnic groups.

The study was a post hoc analysis of two previous studies, meaning the researchers looked back at data already collected to more closely examine racial and ethnic differences. The study involved 1,882 participants, of which 3 percent self-identified as non-Hispanic Black, 4 percent as non-Hispanic Asian, 8 percent as Hispanic/Latino, and 82 percent as non-Hispanic white. The remaining participants were classified as “other/unknown.”

One half of participants received 20 milligrams (mg) ofatumumab every four weeks. The other half received 14 mg of teriflunomide once daily. Participants were followed for two years.

Researchers examined disease activity. No disease activity meant participants had no new relapses with symptom flare-ups, no change in disability, and no new lesions in the brain or spine detected with an MRI scan.

During the study, 33 percent of non-Hispanic Black participants taking ofatumumab had no disease activity compared to the 3 percent taking teriflunomide. Among non-Hispanic Asian participants, the percentages were 43 percent and 22 percent, respectively. For Hispanic/Latino participants, 37 percent and 19 percent, and for non-Hispanic white participants, 37 percent and 17 percent. The proportion of people treated with ofatumumab who had no disease activity was consistent among all race and ethnicity groups.

Rates of experiencing side effects were similar for all groups.

The study was supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the maker of ofatumumab.

A limitation was that the original studies examined in this analysis were not designed to examine the efficacy and safety of the drugs based on race and ethnicity.

The study was published in the journal Neurology.