Background

Fingolimod 0.5 mg once-daily (FTY720; Gilenya™, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland), a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, is the first oral therapy approved by the Swiss Regulatory Agency for treating patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to reduce the frequency of relapses and delay disability progression [1]. Various pharmacodynamics effects of fingolimod are manifested as a consequence of the fingolimod mechanism of action of S1P receptor modulation since these receptors are ubiquitously distributed across different tissues [2]. Fingolimod initiation is associated with a transient reduction in heart rate and possible disturbances in atrioventricular (AV) conduction within the first few hours after first intake [3-5]. Hence, already at the time of market authorization in January 2011, the Swiss label of fingolimod made it a mandate to perform an ECG prior to and after 6 hours of the first dose administration, and recommended regular monitoring of blood pressure and pulse (first dose observation, FDO), which is similar to the current recommendations of other international health authorities. Here, we report for the first time the real-world experience of fingolimod treatment initiation and 6 hours FDO procedure in three different clinical settings outside of University Hospitals (MS centre, day clinic, private practice) since there are no restrictions on location of the FDO procedure in Switzerland.

Methods

Data were collected retrospectively from the charts of RRMS patients treated and monitored as required by the Swiss label for fingolimod between August 2011 and May 2012 at three different locations (i.e. it did not encompass the new recommendations regarding the observation of patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions, published by the Swiss Regulatory Agency in October 2012 [1]). Site 1 was the MS centre, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau (n = 58), site 2 was the Clinique de Carouge in Carouge (office-based neurologist using a day clinic for FDO, n = 17) and site 3 was the Neurocentre Bellevue in Zurich, an office-based neurologist performing the FDO in his practice (n = 61). Prior to the FDO appointment all patients received essential information on fingolimod from their treating physician. They were informed about the potential side effects of fingolimod (short and long term), about the FDO procedure, including the reasons for ECG and the 6 h observation. Information was also provided on the required follow-up examinations after FDO over the next few months, including blood analysis and ophthalmological examination required by the Swiss label. Patients received recommendations on taking tablets including explanation of tablet packaging and drug description. The Cantonal Ethics Committee Zurich waived the review of this study as the data were obtained from retrospective chart reviews, and the information was recorded by the investigator in such manner that subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects.

Results and discussion

Overview of FDO process and associated workload

FDO measurements were performed in the daily clinical setting, which involved an ECG at the beginning and at the end of 6 hours and hourly recording of vital parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) (Figure 1). Between active FDO assessments, performed by the nurse or the physician, patients entertained themselves with activities such as reading, using their personal laptop, lunching together or discussing health related aspects of MS. A nurse took care of up to 2 patients using a single ECG device. She spent two times ten minutes to apply and record the ECG (prior to and 6 hours after the first intake), as well as five times 2 minutes to measure the vital parameters, representing a total workload of 30 minutes for the nurse over the 6 hour period. Interpretation of the ECG was carried out by a physician, representing a workload of 10 minutes altogether (two times five minutes for each ECG). The procedures upon appearance of ECG abnormalities or symptoms after 6 hours varied in the different clinical settings (see Figure 1). If, as stated in the Swiss label, heart rate dropped below 40 bpm during 6 hours FDO, another observation period of 6 hours (including ECG prior to and 6 hours after fingolimod administration) had to be performed on the second day of treatment.

Figure 1
figure 1

Overview of the FDO process in the three different clinical settings. Not for Neurocentre Bellevue. ECG recording was performed a number of days prior to FDO; *Depends on site, usually internist, cardiologist or neurologist; **Nurse or MS nurse; VP, vital parameters.

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Real-world FDO outcomes in the three centres

Data was collected from 136 RRMS patients. 33 were treatment naïve and 103 were previously treated with interferon beta, glatiramer acetate or natalizumab. In total, 130 (95.5%) patients had uneventful FDO, 6 patients experienced cardiac events associated with the first dose (Table 1). Four patients had an AV block: 2 first-degree AV blocks and 2 second-degree AV blocks of Type Mobitz I. All the AV blocks detected resolved spontaneously within 24 hours. This was ensured either by monitoring with Holter ECG or an on-site ECG the following day. Two patients reported symptomatic events that resolved spontaneously without any pharmacological intervention (1 patient with vertigo-like sensation, 1 patient with palpitations [HR in normal range, 74 bpm]). The average duration of follow up was 6.8 months, and 131 (96%) of patients remained on therapy.

Table 1 FDO outcomes in the three centres
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Conclusions

The FDO experience reported here indicates that fingolimod is generally well tolerated upon treatment initiation. The majority of patients had no cardiac events during the FDO. Although symptomatic events were rare, the detection of 1st and 2nd degree Mobitz Type I AV blocks, which in some instances can have clinical implications, highlights the importance of monitoring the patients at treatment initiation and emphasizes the need for comprehensive information beforehand. All 3 participating sites capably facilitated the FDO procedure. Our data, which are in line with the phase 3 trial data [3,4] and other FDO related real-world observational studies [6,7], show that despite strict FDO guidelines in Switzerland, initiation of fingolimod therapy can also take place in clinical settings (MS centre, day clinic, private practice) outside of University Hospitals with a reasonable workload. They also support the safety and feasibility of FDO as well as the good tolerability profile of fingolimod in these real-world clinical settings, as shown by rates of adverse events and drop-outs comparable to those published previously [3,4], supporting the fact that fingolimod can safely be used in MS centres, day clinics and private practices.