Cleveland Clinic Nevada joins international clinical trial investigating RRMS treatment

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is now recruiting participants for a new, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treatment trial, DELIVER-MS.

The purpose of the global, multi-center study, led by Cleveland Clinic, is to compare the benefits and risks of two common treatment approaches for multiple sclerosis to determine which is the better course. The first option uses a highly-effective treatment early in the disease state whereas the second is a more standard escalation approach, which uses moderately effective medications and escalates as needed. This is the first time the two approaches have been compared in a head-to-head trial.

“Patients and their doctors are faced with the dilemma of adopting one of two treatment approaches when managing relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Both options have their share of risks and benefits, and we’re hoping that our research findings will illuminate the most beneficial choice for patients moving forward,” said Carrie Hersh, D.O., MSc, staff neurologist at Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and site-principal investigator and study steering committee member. “Cleveland Clinic remains dedicated to putting our patients first and the results of the DELIVER-MS trial will be a valuable resource in helping us better understand how to give the best care possible.”

In the three-year study, 800 participants will be enrolled and divided into two sub-groups: randomized clinical trial and observational. Participants in the randomized clinical trial will be categorized to either the early highly-effective treatment approach or the standard escalation approach.

DELIVER-MS is funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute as well as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society with research driven by Cleveland Clinic. The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is working in conjunction with Cleveland Clinic in Ohio to conduct the study. Daniel Ontaneda, M.D., clinical director of the brain donation program at Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Treatment and Research in MS serves as the principal investigator for DELIVER-MS.

“DELIVER-MS will help shape the treatment philosophy of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis,” said Dr. Ontaneda. “The results will be applicable to a wide range of patients looking to start currently available and future therapies. The long term study results at ten years will further help neurologists and people with MS make informed decisions on initial treatments.”

Men and women ages 18 to 60 who have been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, are early in their disease course, and have not yet started a disease modifying therapy will be eligible to participate. Additionally, interested participants must be able to show evidence of new MRI lesions or have had relapses over the past 12 months, be able to walk independently or with assistance, and be eligible and willing to follow-up at Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health during the course of the study.

For more information about DELIVER-MS, including how to enroll, contact Nicolette Harmon at (702) 701-7972. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and other ongoing trials, visit CCF.org/BrainHealthTrials.

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Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 52,000 employees are more than 3,600 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 14,000 nurses, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic’s health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 11 regional hospitals, more than 150 northern Ohio outpatient locations – including 18 full-service family health centers and three health and wellness centers – and locations in Weston, Fla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2017, there were 7.6 million outpatient visits, 229,000 hospital admissions and 207,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health provides expert diagnosis and treatment for individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases; multiple sclerosis; frontotemporal dementia and related disorders; and multiple system atrophy. The center offers a continuum of care with no-cost opportunities for the community to participate in education and research, including disease prevention studies and clinical trials of promising new medications. An integrated entity, Keep Memory Alive, raises funds exclusively in support of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit http://www.clevelandclinic.org/brainhealth and http://www.keepmemoryalive.org.

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