Natalizumab therapy is linked to several better health and work outcomes compared with other disease-modifying drug therapies in patients with MS, according to real-world data.

Overall, use of the monoclonal antibody was associated with superior effects over time in eight out of 23 outcome parameters, including balance, bladder symptoms and allowing patients to keep working, researchers say.

The team, led by the University of Melbourne and the University of Tasmania, add that their findings may assist clinicians and patients in selecting treatments.

Using data prospectively collected from 1382 participants in the Australian MS Longitudinal Study from 2015-17, they compared the effects of natalizumab to other therapies for symptom severity, quality of life, disability, disease progression and employment outcomes.