Choosing Appropriate Candidates for Ofatumumab Treatment in Relapsing MS

High-efficacy disease-modifying therapies have reshaped treatment expectations for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), prompting clinicians to consider more potent options earlier in the disease course. As this shift continues, careful patient selection and individualized decision-making remain critical to aligning therapy choice with both clinical characteristics and patient preferences.

In this episode, Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, the founder and chief executive officer of Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center, describes how she defines patients who may be appropriate candidates for ofatumumab. She emphasizes that no single profile fits every individual and that treatment decisions integrate clinical data, including the need for high-efficacy therapy and evidence of active disease such as new enhancing lesions or recent relapses, with patient-specific factors. Ofatumumab (Kesimpta; Novartis) enters early treatment conversations particularly for patients with active relapsing MS who may be transitioning from lower-efficacy agents.

Williams also highlights the role of lifestyle and prior experience with injectable therapies in guiding the choice of a self-administered agent. For patients who travel frequently, work overseas, or have limited access to infusion centers, the ability to administer ofatumumab at home and travel with the medication can be appealing. She notes that while some individuals have concerns related to injections, many are now more familiar and comfortable with injectable treatments because of the widespread use of GLP-1 and other injectable medications, which has reduced some of the historical reluctance toward injection-based MS therapies.