Sanofi’s Frexalimab Shows Promise in Phase 2 for Treating Multiple Sclerosis

(IN BRIEF) Sanofi’s experimental CD40L antibody, frexalimab, demonstrates encouraging results in a 48-week phase 2 study for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, the data reveals sustained reduction in disease activity and favorable tolerability. Key findings include a significant decrease in lesions and a low annual relapse rate, supporting frexalimab as a potential high-efficacy treatment for MS. The study also highlights the drug’s safety profile, indicating it was generally well-tolerated by participants. These promising results pave the way for further investigation in global phase 3 trials, marking a significant advancement in MS therapy.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 17-Apr-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Sanofi’s CD40L antibody, frexalimab, demonstrated sustained reduction of disease activity and favorable tolerability after nearly one year in participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis. These data will be presented today at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2024 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, US. Results from the 12-week double-blind study period were previously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Patrick Vermersch, MD, PhD, University of Lille, CHU Lille, France: “These 48-week data showed that treatment with frexalimab resulted in further decreases in the number of lesions and a sustained reduction in disease activity. The preliminary clinical results are promising with a very low annual relapse rate. This strengthens the rationale for targeting CD40L in MS and supports further development of frexalimab as a potential high-efficacy therapy in relapsing MS.”

From the initial 12-week double-blind period, 97% (125/129) of study participants entered the open-label extension (OLE) of the phase 2 study. Of all participants receiving frexalimab, both on high- and low-dose regimens and participants who switched from placebo at the start of the open-label extension period (week 12), 87% (112/129) remained in the study at the 48-week cut-off. During the OLE, participants in the high- (n=50) and low-dose (n=49) arms continued to receive frexalimab 1200 mg intravenously every four weeks, or frexalimab 300 mg subcutaneously every two weeks, respectively, while those initially receiving placebo switched to the aforementioned high or low dose frexalimab treatment arms (n=12 and n=14, respectively).

Erik Wallström, MD, PhD, Global Head of Neurology Development, Sanofi: “Frexalimab represents a novel potential first-in-class treatment mechanism in multiple sclerosis designed to tackle the aspects of this disease where unmet medical needs still exist. We are applying our deep expertise to address the full spectrum of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration to improve the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis.”

Results of the phase 2 OLE at week 48 showed:

96% of patients who continued receiving high-dose frexalimab and 87% of those who continued receiving low-dose frexalimab were free of Gd+ T1 lesions at week 48, respectively. Additionally, among patients who switched from placebo to high and low-dose frexalimab at the start of the OLE at week 12, declines were seen at Week 24, and 90% and 92% were free of Gd+ T1 lesions at week 48, respectively.
The number of Gd+ T1-lesions (mean [SD]) remained low in participants who continued receiving frexalimab (high dose: 0.0 [0.2]; low dose: 0.2 [0.5]) and continued to decline in those who switched from placebo to frexalimab at week 12 (high dose: 0.2 [0.6]; low dose: 0.1 [0.3]).
Number of and volume change of new or enlarging Gd+ T2-lesions remained low for all frexalimab treatment groups through week 48, and lymphocyte counts remained stable.
Participants who continued receiving high-dose frexalimab experienced a low annualized relapse rate (ARR) of 0.04 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.18) over the 48-week treatment period with 96% being free of relapses. ARR in the initial low-dose arm was 0.22, and ARR in patients who switched to high and low-dose frexalimab were 0.09 and 0.40, respectively, through week 48.

Frexalimab was generally well-tolerated through week 48. The most common adverse events (≥10%) amongst all subgroups of patients receiving frexalimab during OLE until cut-off at week 48 from baseline were nasopharyngitis (n=14 [11%]), headache (n=14 [11%]) and COVID-19 (n=13 [10%]).

About the phase 2 study
The phase 2 study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating frexalimab in participants with relapsing MS. Participants were randomized (4:4:1:1) to receive either high (frexalimab 1200 mg intravenously every four weeks, with an initial 1800 mg loading dose) or low (frexalimab 300 mg subcutaneously every two weeks, with an initial 600 mg loading dose) doses of frexalimab or matching placebo for 12 weeks (Part A). The primary endpoint was the reduction in the number of new Gd+ T1 MRI brain lesions at week 12. Secondary endpoints included additional MRI-based efficacy measures as well as the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of frexalimab. After week 12, participants receiving placebo switched to respective frexalimab arms and entered the open-label Part B, which is currently ongoing.

About frexalimab
Frexalimab (SAR441344) is a potentially first-in-class second generation investigational anti-CD40L antibody that blocks the costimulatory CD40/CD40L pathway which is important for activation and function of adaptive (T and B cells) and innate (macrophages/microglia and dendritic cells) immunity. Through this unique upstream mechanism of action, frexalimab has the potential to address both acute and chronic neuroinflammation in MS, without causing lymphocyte depletion. Sanofi is developing frexalimab under an exclusive license from ImmuNext Inc. Frexalimab is being evaluated in phase 3 clinical studies for Multiple Sclerosis and phase 2 clinical studies for immunology indications and Type 1 Diabetes, and its safety and efficacy have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority. For more information on frexalimab clinical trials, please visit .

About Sanofi
We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions.
Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY

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Sanofi’s Frexalimab Shows Promise in Phase 2 for Treating Multiple Sclerosis

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