Abstract
Objectives Siponimod is approved in Australia for adults with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Pre-screen requirements for siponimod include CYP2C9 genotype testing. To support onboarding, a digital platform, ‘MSGo’, was developed by Novartis and RxMx® for Healthcare Professionals and their patients. Here, data derived exclusively from MSGo was utilised to characterise the onboarding experience of siponimod patients in Australia.
Methods The study enrolled >350 adults with SPMS registered in MSGo for siponimod in Australia. The primary endpoint was average time for onboarding with key secondary endpoints addressing adherence and variables that influence onboarding and adherence.
Results Final data extraction on April 20, 2022 included 368 patients (median age 59y). CYP2C9 genotype testing took a median of 19 days (95%CI 17–21) from registration. Mixture-cure modelling estimated that 58% of patients will ever initiate siponimod, with a median time to initiation of 56d (95%CI 47–59) from registration. Self-reporting of daily treatment had a drop-off of ~25% after the first week of initiation. A continued decline in reporting over time limited assessment of adherence. An important role of care partners was identified, with Cox regression analyses demonstrating that SPMS patients who nominated a care partner were more likely to initiate (HR:2.1, 95%CI 1.5–3.0) and to continue self-reporting their daily medication (HR:2.2, 95%CI 1.3–3.7).
Conclusions This study provides insights into siponimod onboarding for adults living with SPMS in Australia and demonstrates the impact of MSGo and care partner support during a period challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
