VUMERITY effectiveness
Understanding the potential benefits of VUMERITY
Dimethyl fumarate—which has the same active metabolite* as VUMERITY® (diroximel fumarate)—was studied in two separate 2-year clinical trials in people with relapsing-remitting MS.
In the first trial, 410 people took 240 mg of dimethyl fumarate two times a day and 408 took placebo (“a fake pill”). In the second trial, 359 people took 240 mg of dimethyl fumarate two times a day and 363 took placebo.
*A metabolite is part of the medication that remains after the drug has been processed (or metabolized) in the body.
Shown to be effective in the 3 goals of relapsing MS treatment
Cut relapses
Relapses, also called flare-ups or exacerbations, can be disruptive. Reducing the risk of relapses should be one of the goals of treatment.
Although no relapsing MS medication completely gets rid of relapses, dimethyl fumarate (which has the same active metabolite as VUMERITY) has been shown to reduce relapses compared with placebo.
Dimethyl fumarate cut the risk of relapses
Study 1
27% of people taking dimethyl
fumarate had a relapse, compared
with 46% taking placebo
Study 2
29% of people taking dimethyl
fumarate had a relapse, compared
with 41% taking placebo
Dimethyl fumarate cut the number of relapses
Study 1
Dimethyl fumarate cut the
number of relapses by 53%
compared with placebo
Study 2
Dimethyl fumarate cut the
number of relapses by 44%
compared with placebo
Delay the progression of physical disability
When you have relapsing MS, you know how important it is to stay as active and mobile as you possibly can.
Dimethyl fumarate (which has the same active metabolite as VUMERITY) was shown to delay the progression of physical disability, which is an important goal of treatment.
Disability progression was less likely
Slow the development of brain lesions
The link between brain lesions and the progression of MS has not been confirmed. However, lesions can happen without you noticing them, and they may be a sign that the disease is active. Lesions revealed on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may help your healthcare provider determine how well your treatment is working. Talking to your healthcare provider about the results of your MRI could help with the management of your relapsing MS.
Development of brain lesions was slowed
To understand the impact of dimethyl fumarate (which has the same active metabolite as VUMERITY) on brain lesions, researchers looked at lesions using 3 different MRI techniques to determine the age and stage of the lesions. Based on all 3 measures, people taking dimethyl fumarate had fewer lesions compared with those taking placebo.
Study 1
In Study 1, the lesions studied showed:
ACTIVE INFLAMMATION
(Average number of Gd+
lesions at 2 years)
1.8 placebo
0.1 dimethyl fumarate
Gd+ lesions:
Inflamed brain tissue that is attacked and considered “active.” These lesions disappear when inflammation decreases.
90%
fewer Gd+ lesions
for dimethyl
fumarate
LONG-TERM IMPACT
OF INFLAMMATION
(Average number of new
or newly enlarging T2
lesions over 2 years)
17.0 placebo
2.6 dimethyl fumarate
T2 lesions:
Scars that indicate the long-term impact of MS on the brain. They can either be new lesions or old lesions that develop again.
85%
fewer T2 lesions
for dimethyl
fumarate
POSSIBLE
PERMANENT DAMAGE
(Average number of new
T1 lesions over 2 years)
5.6 placebo
1.5 dimethyl fumarate
T1 lesions:
Nerve cells in the brain that can’t be repaired, which can mean a loss of function.
72%
fewer T1 lesions
for dimethyl
fumarate
Study 2
In Study 1, the lesions studied showed:
ACTIVE INFLAMMATION
(Average number of Gd+
lesions at 2 years)
2.0 placebo
0.5 dimethyl fumarate
Gd+ lesions:
Inflamed brain tissue that is attacked and considered “active.” These lesions disappear when inflammation decreases.
74%
fewer Gd+ lesions
for dimethyl
fumarate
LONG-TERM IMPACT
OF INFLAMMATION
(Average number of new
or newly enlarging T2
lesions over 2 years)
17.4 placebo
5.1 dimethyl fumarate
T2 lesions:
Scars that indicate the long-term impact of MS on the brain. They can either be new lesions or old lesions that develop again.
71%
fewer T2 lesions
for dimethyl
fumarate
POSSIBLE
PERMANENT DAMAGE
(Average number of new
T1 lesions over 2 years)
7.0 placebo
3.0 dimethyl fumarate
T1 lesions:
Nerve cells in the brain that can’t be repaired, which can mean a loss of function.
57%
fewer T1 lesions
for dimethyl
fumarate
