A decade after diagnosis, people with multiple sclerosis who started high-efficacy immunotherapy in the first two years have less disability than late-starters of such therapies, according to Australian-led research.

University of Melbourne researchers and international colleagues examined data on 213 people with relapsing-remitting MS from two registries who started therapy with rituximab, ocrelizumab, mitoxantrone, alemtuzumab or natalizumab within two years of their diagnosis.

The patients’ results on the Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS, 0-10, 10 has the most disability) were compared with 253 closely-matched patients who did not start on the high-efficacy therapies until 4-6 years after MS diagnosis.

Mean age was 31 years at diagnosis, 72% were female and baseline EDSS score was 2.1.