Living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) means managing a condition that can impact physical ability and daily life. For many, the medication natalizumab is a key part of that management. A recent review looked at whether changing how often patients receive this drug—moving from a standard 4-week schedule to an extended interval of 5 to 12 weeks—changes the results.
The findings show that extending the time between doses did not significantly change disability progression or the number of new T2 lesions (areas of inflammation). However, there was a notable finding regarding gadolinium-enhancing lesions, which are signs of active inflammation. These were found at a higher risk with the extended dosing schedule.
While some data suggested a slight drop in clinical relapses, researchers warn that this might be due to selection bias rather than the treatment itself. Additionally, because progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is so rare, the study could not provide a firm conclusion on its safety risk with extended dosing. For now, experts suggest that while longer intervals are a viable option, more long-term data is needed to confirm the best timing for every patient.
