Effect of Disease Modifying Therapy on Antibody Response to COVID19 Vaccination in Multiple Sclerosis

COVID-19 is a potentially fatal respiratory illness, caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which developed into a pandemic claiming the lives of over 500,000 people in the United States and over 2.5 million worldwide. Antibodies against the spike glycoprotein are believed to confer immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which is typically treated with immunomodulating medications, referred to as disease modifying therapies (DMTs). Some DMTs resulted in a diminished capacity to develop antibodies against natural infection with SARS-CoV-2. This study is designed to evaluate and compare the effect of DMTs on antibody response to mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. Serum samples will be collected from 30 participants per treatment arm at 8 weeks, 24 weeks, 36 weeks, and 48 weeks, following vaccination with mRNA-1273. Geometric mean titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG will be measured to evaluate and compare peak antibody titers, as well as the duration of antibody response. The results will likely impact clinical decision-making, and guide treatment strategies for safely managing MS during the ongoing pandemic.