Novartis announces preliminary results from a phase III trial evaluating siponimod in people living with secondary progressive MS

Novartis has announced preliminary results from the EXPAND study, a phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the experimental drug siponimod (BAF312) in participants with secondary progressive MS. The trial included 1,651 people with secondary progressive MS from 31 countries; participants were randomized to receive either 2 mg of siponimod or a dummy drug (placebo) in a 2:1 ratio, respectively.

Preliminary results shared in a press release from Novartis showed that the trial met its primary endpoint of significantly reducing disability progression as measured by sustained changes in the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score, versus placebo. This is positive news for the MS community given the limited treatments options currently available for secondary progressive MS. Further details of the trial will be presented at the 32nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), September 17th, in London, UK.

The MS Society will be at the conference providing live updates on this and other drug trials. Follow along on Twitter at @Dr_KarenLee and the MS Society’s research blog.

Visit our Treatments in Development page for more information about siponimod.