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Novartis drug cuts MS relapse rate by a third
In Phase 3 trials, remibrutinib lowered relapse rates by roughly a third compared to the standard drug Aubagio, while showing a cleaner safety profile.
23 Oct 2026 0 reads Compiled with AI
#Novartis #remibrutinib #multiple sclerosis
Novartis has demonstrated that its experimental drug remibrutinib can cut the number of flare‑ups in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis. In two Phase 3 trials, called REMODEL‑1 and REMODEL‑2, the medicine lowered the annualized relapse rate by 35.2 % in one study and 31.2 % in the other, compared with the standard drug Aubagio. The results were presented at an international conference in Toronto, showing a consistent benefit across both studies.
According to neurologist Heinz Wiendl, who presented the data, the reduction translates into about one relapse every 13 years for patients receiving remibrutinib. Roche’s drug fenebrutinib, in its own pivotal studies against Aubagio, cut the relapse rate by more than 50 %, so its efficacy is greater than remibrutinib’s.
Remibrutinib’s safety profile is described as cleaner, which could give it a shot at being competitive in the market despite its weaker relapse reduction compared with fenebrutinib.
The company has the data needed to pursue regulatory approval, which would determine whether remibrutinib reaches patients.