Darin Okuda, MD, FAAN, FANA, director of Neuroinnovation and Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Imaging Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center is featured on NeurologyLive providing insight on the promising future of treating radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) at its earliest stages. Dr. Okuda was the primary investigator of the ARISE study, a double-blind trial assessing dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera; Biogen) in patients with RIS.
The study, which featured 87 patients who met the 2009 RIS criteria, was considered a success, as findings showed a significant 82% reduction in the risk of first clinical demyelinating event over a 96-week treatment period (hazard ratio, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05-0.63; P = .007). This was the first time a disease-modifying effect had been shown in this patient population.