Abstract Details

Title Neutralizing Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Multiple Sclerosis

Topic Multiple Sclerosis

Presentation(s) P11 - Poster Session 11 (11:45 AM-12:45 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 12-003

Background

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVD-19), a highly transmissible and potentially fatal illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, emerged as a global pandemic in early 2020. Several vaccines, including 2 innovative mRNA vaccines, were developed against this virus.

To reduce relapse rates and slow disability accumulation, pwMS are often treated with DMTs which have anti-inflammatory properties and regulate adaptive immunity. An important clinical issue concerns the impact of DMTs on the efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and the eventual need for booster doses. In this study, we measured the titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in pwMS following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Objective

To investigate the humoral immune response following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and to determine the effect of disease modifying therapies (DMT) on the vaccination response.

Design/Methods

We conducted a prospective longitudinal study in pwMS at the Ohio State University (OSU) MS Center. Longitudinal serum samples were obtained from pwMS prior to and after the administration of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. These samples were analyzed for nAbs against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a novel pseudotyped-lentivirus-based virus neutralization assay. OSU health care workers (HCWs) served as healthy controls.

Results Of eighty-three consented subjects, fifty-two had post vaccination serum samples analyzed. Although pwMS did not exhibit drastically different nAb titers compared to HCWs, 21% (n=11) did not have detectable nAb titers post-vaccination (NT₅₀< 40)—including 9 patients on B-cell depleting therapies, 1 on sphingosine 1-phosphate modulator, and 1 on no DMT. Compared to patients not on DMT, pwMS on B-cell depleting therapies exhibited 7-fold lower nAb titers, while those on fumarates or beta-interferon exhibited no significant difference to patients not on DMT.

Conclusions

Humoral immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may be attenuated by certain DMTs, most notably B-cell depleting drugs. Further studies are underway to determine the effect of booster vaccine on nAb levels.

Authors/Disclosures
Tirisham Gyang, MD (Ohio State Univeristy, Wexner Medical Center, Department of Neurology) PRESENTER	Dr. Gyang has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genentech. Dr. Gyang has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Greenwich Biosciences. Dr. Gyang has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Horizon Therapeutics. Dr. Gyang has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Alexion. Dr. Gyang has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for EMD Serono.
	No disclosure on file
Joseph S. Miller	Mr. Miller has nothing to disclose.
Kariss M. Alcorn, MD (The Ohio State University)	Mrs. Alcorn has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Erica Bell, PhD (The Ohio State University)	Dr. Bell has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Benjamin M. Segal, MD (University of Michigan)	Dr. Segal has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Bloom, Inc. Dr. Segal has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Eli Lily. The institution of Dr. Segal has received research support from NIH. Dr. Segal has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Segal has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Segal has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Expert talks moderator; writer/ commentator with Ology Medical Education, Inc/ Neurodiem.