Disease outcomes with ublituximab in treatment-naïve participants: subpopulation analyses of the phase 3 ULTIMATE I and II studies in participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis.
Publication Title
Front Immunol
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2026
Keywords
washington; swedish
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that treating relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) initially with a high-efficacy disease-modifying therapy (DMT) is superior to an escalating approach at reducing disability progression and relapse rate.
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of ublituximab versus teriflunomide in participants without prior DMT (treatment-naïve population) and in a subset of treatment-naïve participants with symptom onset ≤ three years (early treatment subpopulation).
Methods: Pooled post hoc analyses of ULTIMATE I/II were conducted at Week 96.
Results: The annualized relapse rate was 0.081 for ublituximab (n = 345) versus 0.188 for teriflunomide (n = 377) (p < 0.001) in the treatment-naïve population and 0.130 for ublituximab (n = 139) versus 0.334 for teriflunomide (n = 140) in the early treatment subpopulation (p = 0.004). Twelve-week confirmed disability improvement rates were 10.7% versus 5.3% (p = 0.010) in the treatment-naïve population and 14.4% versus 3.6% (p = 0.002) in the early treatment population (ublituximab vs. teriflunomide). Significant reductions in gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesions and new/enlarging T2 lesions, respectively, occurred for ublituximab versus teriflunomide (treatment naïve: 0.031 vs. 0.791 and 0.390 vs. 4.144; p < 0.001 for both; early treatment: 0.051 vs. 1.030 and 0.508 vs. 6.068; p < 0.001 for both).
Conclusions: Ublituximab was associated with significant treatment benefits at Week 96 in treatment-naïve participants and those receiving treatment within three years of symptom onset.
Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03277261 and https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03277248, identifiers NCT03277261 and NCT03277248.
Area of Special Interest
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Specialty/Research Institute
Neurosciences
DOI
10.3389/fimmu.2026.1771848
