AbobotulinumtoxinA, Ublituximab Meet Primary End Points, Serum Protein Signature May Predict Relapse in NMOSD

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Welcome to the Neurology News Network, my name is Louie Pasculli and here’s a look at some of the top stories in Neurology.

Beginning with phase 3 trial updates, Ipsen announced topline results from the phase 3 BEOND program, which comprised the C-BEOND study (NCT06047444) and the E-BEOND study (NCT06047457), for migraine prevention, according to a new company update. Findings showed that in both studies, abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) met its primary end point, demonstrating a significant reduction in migraine days (MMD) compared with placebo in adults with episodic and chronic migraine.¹

"Preventive treatment options for episodic migraine remain limited," principal investigator for the E-BEOND trial Jessica Ailani, MD, clinical professor of neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, said in a statement.¹ "These clinical trial results are encouraging because they suggest a potential new preventative therapy that, if approved, may benefit a broad group of patients."

Sticking with Phase 3 results, in a recent company update, TG Therapeutics announced that its phase 3b ENHANCE trial (NCT05877963), evaluating a streamlined dosing regimen for ublituximab-xiiy (Briumvi; TG Therapeutics), met its primary end point in adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). All told, findings demonstrated bioequivalent systemic drug exposure between a single consolidated600 mg infusion administered on Day 1 and the currently approved split initiation regimen of 150 mg on Day 1 followed by 450 mg on Day 15.²

Michael S. Weiss, chairman and chief executive officer at TG Therapeutics, said this in a statement.² “We are very pleased to share these positive results from our ENHANCE Phase 3 trial. By eliminating the need for a second infusion visit two weeks after treatment initiation, this streamlined dosing regimen has the potential to accelerate time from prescription to treatment and reduce scheduling burdens at busy infusion centers. If this consolidated dosing is approved, BRIUMVI would be the first and only IV anti-CD20 for which therapy can be initiated with a single infusion.”

Changing gears, A proteomic analysis of longitudinally collected serum samples from patients enrolled in the CIRCLES cohort has identified a 10-protein signature capable of stratifying relapse risk in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs), with findings published in Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation.³ If validated prospectively, the signature could provide clinicians with a meaningful window to intervene before neurological damage accrues.

NMOSD is a rare autoimmune central nervous system disorder in which disability accumulates with each relapse. Virtually all patients with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4)–seropositive disease experience relapses, and even with effective immunosuppressive therapy, they occur unpredictably, carrying the risk of permanent vision loss, paralysis, and cognitive decline. By the time a relapse is confirmed through biomarkers like GFAP or neurofilament light chain, the window for meaningful prevention has already closed. The CIRCLES study team set out to find something earlier.

Using high-resolution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, investigators characterized 305 longitudinally collected serum samples from 126 CIRCLES-enrolled patients with documented relapses. The CIRCLES cohort, the largest NMOSD biorepository in North America, enrolled 599 patients across 15 US sites between 2013 and 2020. Led by several neurologists, including Michael R. Yeaman, PhD, MSc, the median time from sample collection to subsequent relapse in the analytic cohort was 243 days, a deliberate feature: Investigators wanted signals appearing months before clinical deterioration, not days.

To read the full piece and to get more direct access to expert insight, head to NeurologyLive.com. Be sure to tune in next week to remain informed on the latest in neurology. I’m Louie Pasculli, thanks for watching Neurology News Network.

REFERENCES
1. Dysport® is the first botulinum toxin to achieve positive topline Phase III results in both episodic and chronic migraine. News release. Ipsen. July 9, 2026. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.ipsen.com/press-release/dysport-is-the-first-botulinum-toxin-to-achieve-positive-topline-phase-iii-results-in-both-episodic-and-chronic-migraine-3324543/
2. Nelson LM, Wallin MT, Marrie RA, et al. A new way to estimate neurologic disease prevalence in the United States: Illustrated with MS. Neurology. 2019;92(10):469-480. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007044
3. Steinman L, Fox E, Hartung HP, et al. Ublituximab versus Teriflunomide in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(8):704-714. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2201904
3. Bach E, Breschi A, Wang Y, et al. Prognostic biomarker signature of relapse in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in the CIRCLES observational study. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2026;13(4):e200611. doi:10.1212/NXI.0000000000200611