Primary objective was to assess the effectiveness evaluated by the time to failure of two doses of teriflunomide in comparison to interferon beta-1a in participants with relapsing Multiple Sclerosis \[MS\]. Secondary objectives were: * To assess the effect of the two doses in comparison to interferon beta-1a on: * Frequency of relapses, * Fatigue, * Participant's satisfaction with treatment. * To evaluate the safety and tolerability of the two doses in comparison to interferon beta-1a. The study consisted of a core treatment period with a common end date defined as 48 weeks after randomization of the last participant, followed by an optional long-term extension treatment period until teriflunomide is commercially available in accordance with local regulations.
The core treatment period per participant was variable depending on the enrollment in the study (maximum of approximatively 118 weeks). The two doses of teriflunomide were administered in double-blind fashion, whereas interferon beta-1a (Rebif®) was open-label. The opportunity to continue with the highest dose of teriflunomide in open-label fashion was offered to the participants who successfully completed treatment in the core study. The overall treatment period was followed by a 4-week elimination follow-up period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
324
Sterile preservative-free solution packaged in graduated pre-filled syringes Subcutaneous injection Ascending doses from 8.8 to 44 mcg according to local standard for Rebif®
Film-coated tablet Oral administration
Investigational Site Number 056003
Brussels, Belgium
Investigational Site Number 056001
Ghent, Belgium
Investigational Site Number 056002
Hasselt, Belgium
Investigational Site Number 124003
Lévis, Canada
Investigational Site Number 124002
London, Canada
Investigational Site Number 124004
Core Treatment Period: Overview of Failures
Failure was defined as the first occurence of confirmed relapse or permanent treatment discontinuation (for any cause) which ever came first. If no events occurred, the participant was considered free of failure. Each episode of relapse - appearance, or worsening of a clinical symptom that was stable for at least 30 days, that persisted for a minimum of 24 hours in the absence of fever - was to be confirmed by an increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale \[EDSS\] score or Functional System scores.
Time frame: Core treatment period between 48 and 118 weeks depending on when the participant was enrolled
Core Treatment Period: Time to Failure: Kaplan-Meier Estimates of the Rate of Failure at Timepoints
Probability of disability progression at 24, 48 and 96 weeks was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method on the time to failure defined as the time from randomization to failure. Participants free of failure were censored at the date of last treatment. Kaplan-Meier method consists in computing probabilities of non occurrence of event at any observed time of event and multiplying successive probabilities for time ≤t by any earlier computed probabilities to estimate the probability of being event-free for the amount of time t. Probability of event at time t is 1 minus the probability of being event-free for the amount of time t.
Time frame: Core treatment period between 48 and 118 weeks depending on when the participant was enrolled
Core Treatment Period: Annualized Relapse Rate [ARR] - Poisson Regression Estimates
ARR is obtained from the total number of confirmed relapses that occured during the treatment period divided by the sum of the treatment durations. To account for the different treatment durations among participants, a Poisson regression model with robust error variance was used (total number of confirmed relapses as response variable; log-transformed treatment duration as "offset" variable; treatment group, region of enrollment and baseline EDSS stratum as covariates).
Time frame: Core treatment period between 48 and 118 weeks depending on when the participant was enrolled
Core Treatment Period: Change From Baseline in Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) Total Score
FIS is a subject-reported scale that qualifies the impact of fatigue on daily life in patients with MS. It consists of 40 statements that measure fatigue in three areas; physical, cognitive, and social. FIS total score ranges from 0 (no problem) to 160 (extreme problem). Least-square means were estimated using a Mixed-effect model with repeated measures \[MMRM\] on FIS total score data (treatment group, region of enrollment, baseline EDSS stratum, visit, treatment-by-visit interaction, baseline value, and baseline-by-visit interaction as factors).
Time frame: Baseline (before randomization) and 48 weeks
Core Treatment Period: Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication [TSQM] Scores
TSQM version 1.4 is an instrument to assess patients' satisfaction with medication. It consists of 13 questions that cover three dimensions (effectiveness, side effects and convenience) plus a global satisfaction question. Four scores ranging from 0 to 100 (extremely satisfied) are obtained. Least-square means were estimated using a Mixed-effect model with repeated measures \[MMRM\] on TSQM score data (treatment group, region of enrollment, baseline EDSS stratum, visit, treatment-by-visit interaction as factors).
Time frame: 48 weeks
Core Treatment Period: Overview of Adverse Events [AE]
AE are any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, syndrome, or illness observed by the investigator or reported by the participant during the study.
Time frame: from first study drug intake up to 112 days after last intake in the core treatment period or up to first intake in the extension treatment period, whichever occurred first
Extension Treatment Period: Overview of AEs
AEs were any unfavourable and unintended sign, symptom, syndrome, or illness observed by the investigator or reported by the participant during the study.
Time frame: From first intake of study drug in extension treatment period up to 28 days after the last intake in the extension treatment period
Extension Treatment Period: ARR Poisson Regression Estimates
ARR was obtained from the total number of confirmed relapses that occurred during the treatment period divided by the sum of the standardized treatment durations.To account for the different treatment durations among participants, a Poisson Regression Model with robust error variance was used (total number of confirmed relapses as response variable; log-transformed treatment duration as "offset" variable; treatment group, region of enrolment and baseline EDSS stratum as covariates).
Time frame: Extension treatment period (Maximum: 197 weeks)
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St. John's, Canada
Investigational Site Number 203004
Jihlava, Czechia
Investigational Site Number 203003
Prague, Czechia
Investigational Site Number 203002
Prague, Czechia
Investigational Site Number 250003
Bordeaux, France
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