https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458519843055
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458519843055
MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS MSJ
JOURNAL
journals.sagepub.com/home/msj 1
Multiple Sclerosis Journal
1–8
DOI: 10.1177/
1352458519843055
© The Author(s), 2019.
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Introduction
As approximately two-thirds of patients with multi-
ple sclerosis (MS) are female and the diagnosis
typically occurs during childbearing years, potential
childbearing risks associated with MS disease-mod-
ifying therapies (DMTs) are of interest. Clinical
decision-making regarding DMT use in women of
childbearing potential is guided by disease severity
and consideration of pregnancy risks from prescrib-
ing information. Drug labeling for pregnancy risks
is based primarily on results of preclinical toxicity
studies, as outcomes from human pregnancies
exposed to DMTs are limited at drug approval since
pregnant women are typically excluded from clini-
cal trials.
Teriflunomide is a once-daily oral immunomodulator
approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS
in 80 countries. As a first-line treatment, terifluno-
mide is an attractive option for young women newly
diagnosed with MS, particularly since it is effective,
convenient, easy to use, and well-tolerated. However,
Pregnancy outcomes in patients with multiple
sclerosis treated with teriflunomide: Clinical
study data and 5 years of post-marketing
experience
Sandra Vukusic , Patricia K Coyle, Stephanie Jurgensen, Philippe Truffinet,
Myriam Benamor, Salman Afsar, Annie Purvis, Elizabeth M Poole and Christina Chambers
Abstract
Background: Teriflunomide is contraindicated in pregnancy. Some pregnancies have occurred despite
guidance to use effective contraception.
Objectives: To report outcomes of pregnancies occurring in teriflunomide clinical trials and the post-
marketing setting.
Methods: Outcomes are summarized for pregnancies in teriflunomide monotherapy clinical trials and the
post-marketing setting (data cutoff: December 2017).
Results: Of 437 confirmed teriflunomide-exposed pregnancies, 222 had known outcomes (70 from clini-
cal trials; 152 from the post-marketing setting); 161 were reported prospectively and 61 retrospectively.
There were 107 (48.2%) live births, 63 (28.4%) elective abortions, 47 (21.2%) spontaneous abortions, 3
(1.4%) ectopic pregnancies, 1 (0.5%) stillbirth, and 1 (0.5%) maternal death leading to fetal death. Four
birth defects were reported among cases with known pregnancy outcome: ureteropyeloectasia (only defect
considered major); congenital hydrocephalus; ventricular septal defect; and malformation of right foot
valgus. A case of cystic hygroma was identified on antenatal ultrasound (pregnancy outcome unknown).
One elective abortion followed prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomaly (blighted ovum). The risk of major
birth defects in prospectively reported live birth/stillbirth outcomes was 3.6% (1/28) in clinical trials and
0.0% (0/51) in post-marketing reports.
Conclusions: Outcomes were consistent with the general population. Current human data do not indicate
a teratogenic signal in teriflunomide-exposed pregnancies.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, pregnancy, safety, teriflunomide, clinical study, post-marketing
Date received: 7 December 2018; revised: 25 February 2019; accepted: 16 March 2019
Correspondence to:
Sandra Vukusic
Service de neurologie,
sclérose en plaques,
pathologies de la myéline
et neuro-inflammation,
Hôpital Neurologique
Pierre Wertheimer, Centre
Hospitalo-Universitaire de
Lyon (Hospices Civils de
Lyon), 59 Boulevard Pinel,
69677 Bron cedex, France.
sandra.vukusic@chu-lyon.
fr
Sandra Vukusic
Service de neurologie,
sclérose en plaques,
pathologies de la myéline
et neuro-inflammation,
Hôpital Neurologique
Pierre Wertheimer, Centre
Hospitalo-Universitaire
de Lyon (Hospices Civils
de Lyon), Bron, France/
Observatoire Français de la
Sclérose en Plaques, Centre
des Neurosciences de Lyon,
INSERM 1028 et CNRS
UMR5292, Lyon, France/
Faculté de Médecine Lyon
Est, Université Claude
Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon,
France
Patricia K Coyle
Comprehensive Care Center,
School of Medicine, Stony
Brook University, Stony
Brook, NY, USA
Stephanie Jurgensen
Salman Afsar
Annie Purvis
Elizabeth M Poole
Sanofi, Cambridge, MA,
USA
Philippe Truffinet
Myriam Benamor
Sanofi, Chilly-Mazarin,
France
Christina Chambers
Department of Pediatrics,
Rady Children’s Hospital and
University of California San
Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
843055MSJ 0 0 10.1177/1352458519843055Multiple Sclerosis JournalS Vukusic, PK Coyle
research-article 2019
Original Research Paper