Recently, the 4th Annual Academic Meeting of the Shanghai Stroke Association and the 17th Chinese Neurology Forum were held in Shanghai, where the “Expert Recommendations on the Clinical Practice of Treating Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders With Inebilizumab” (hereinafter referred to as “Recommendations”) were released. Currently, China is among the nations with the highest number of patients suffering from Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) in the world. The release of the Recommendations not only helps to standardize and improve the quality of NMOSD diagnosis and treatment in China but will also have a profound impact on global NMOSD clinical practices.

The drafting and review of the Recommendations involved 23 renowned Chinese experts in neurology, radiology, and ophthalmology, all of whom possess extensive experience in administering Inebilizumab. These experts hail from various prestigious institutions, including the National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases (Huashan Hospital), the Neurology Branch of the Shanghai Stroke Society, several hospitals across the Yangtze River Delta region, as well as West China Hospital and Xiangya Hospital. Professor Qiang Dong, the Executive Director of the Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, served as the chairman of the review meeting. Professor Chao Quan, the Chief Physician of the Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, was the lead author. Additionally, Professor Bruce A.C. Cree and two other leading international experts in the NMOSD field also participated in the discussions on the Recommendations.

 

Release Ceremony for the “Expert Recommendations for the Clinical Practice of Treating Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder With Inebilizumab”

Similar to other rare diseases, patients who suffer from NMOSD in China have long been caught in a dilemma where there is a “lack of medical resources and medication.” One issue is that many primary care physicians lack awareness about this rare disease, leading to misdiagnoses of many NMOSD patients. Another issue is that prior to the approval and launch of monoclonal antibody drugs, China mainly used traditional immunosuppressants for remission treatment. Although these treatments had some efficacy, it was still difficult to achieve the treatment goal of effectively controlling relapse.

In recent years, the approval of highly effective biologics, represented by inebilizumab, and their inclusion in national health insurance have significantly improved accessibility to drugs for NMOSD patients in China. This development has also resulting in valuable findings on the clinical practice of anti-CD19 monoclonal antibodies in the NMOSD field both in China and globally.

The use of monoclonal antibody drugs in China has been low in the past, and grassroots hospitals lack experience in the application of such drugs. As a first-in-class drug, inebilizumab has been on the market for a short time, and primary care physicians require more detailed and relevant clinical practice guidelines to standardize the application of such drugs. 

Professor Chao Quan provides an on-site interpretation of the “Expert Recommendations for the Clinical Practice of Treating Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder With Inebilizumab”

To address the aforementioned issues, the Shanghai Stroke Society initiated the compilation and review work for the “Expert Recommendations for the Clinical Practice of Treating Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder With Inebilizumab”. The Recommendations cover common questions regarding the application population, timing of use, pre-medication assessment, methods of use, post-medication monitoring, how to switch medications, monotherapy and combination therapy, the possibility of discontinuation, safety management, and application of inebilizumab in special populations, providing a theoretical basis for its safe and effective clinical application.

Professor Chao Quan stated that the Shanghai Stroke Society will continue to update and refine the “Recommendations” based on more real-world evidence, with the hope that China's practical experience in the field of NMOSD will influence the world in the future.