Merck Biopharma Korea has shared its latest findings and the study results of Mavenclad (ingredient: cladribine) in treating multiple sclerosis patients who received the Covid-19 vaccine at an online meeting held on Thursday.

Professor Dimitrios Karussis of Neurology at Hebrew University, Israel, described the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination for patients with multiple sclerosis and the effectiveness and safety of the game-changer, Mavenclad, in clinical practices.

“Vaccination is strongly recommended for patients with autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, because they need to take immunosuppressive therapies and are more susceptible to Covid-19 infection and likely to develop severe symptoms once infected,” Professor Karussis said.

In a recent study conducted on 23 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with Mavenclad in Israel, all 23 patients showed protective immunoglobulin G antibody responses to the Covid-19 virus.

Karussis said he was deeply concerned about inoculating the Covid-19 vaccine for patients with autoimmune diseases because their weakened immunity could lead to the lowered immune response of the Covid-19 vaccine or affect its efficacy.

Professor Karussis pointed out that the study showed very encouraging data for multiple sclerosis patients, and it was also meaningful that there were no unexpected safety problems in the mRNA vaccination in patients treated with Mavenclad compared to healthy people.

Based on the study results, Karussis explained the benefits of high-efficacy therapies, such as Mavenclad, in the initial treatment of multiple sclerosis.

“Mavenclad is convenient to take in and also has significant efficacy and safety as a multiple sclerosis treatment confirmed from CLARITY clinical trial,” Karussis said. “If patients start treatment at an early stage of the onset of multiple sclerosis, they will see better outcomes than the natural course, so it is important to begin taking an effective drug such as Mavenclad in early stages.”

Mavenclad, a multiple sclerosis treatment, received domestic approval in July 2019 and expanded reimbursement in August 2020. The oral formulation of the drug improved patient compliance and provided clinical effects last for up to four years, even with short-term use of up to 20 days for two years.