Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) is a disease modifying drug (DMD) that is approved for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). It is taken as two tablets, twice a day.
Taking Vumerity reduces the number of relapses you might have by about one half (50%).
Common side effects of Vumerity include dizziness, nausea and gastrointestinal problems.
Vumerity is a disease modifying drug for relapsing remitting MS. You have fewer relapses than you might have had without treatment, and disease progression is slower.
Vumerity can be prescribed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for adults with active relapsing remitting MS who are having relapses or have MRI evidence of MS activity.
If you live in Scotland, the criteria for prescribing Vumerity is slightly different to that in the rest of the UK. Ask your neurologist if you are unsure whether you are eligible.
Vumerity has been approved for use on the NHS since 2022. It can only be prescribed by a neurologist.
Vumerity is similar to Tecfidera (chemical name dimethyl fumarate). In the body, both drugs are converted to monomethyl fumarate.
In common with Tecfidera, the way diroximel fumarate works is not fully understood, but laboratory studies suggest that it may work in two ways.
Vumerity has biological activity similar to Tecfidera. In the body, both drugs are converted to monomethyl fumarate which reduces inflammation caused by MS activity and may protect nerve cells from damage.
Diroximel fumarate is taken as two tablets, twice daily.
This open-label (ie participants knew they were taking diroximel fumarate) phase III study evaluated the safety and tolerability of diroximel fumarate, taken for approximately 2 years, in more than 1000 participants with relapsing remitting MS. The main purpose of the study was to monitor side effects.
Interim results from 696 participants have been published. After one year of treatment with diroximel fumarate, the annualized relapse rate was 0.16 (down from 0.78 in the previous year). MRI results showed a significant reduction in the number of active MS lesions, compared to when they first joined the trial. Diroximel fumarate was well tolerated, with 6.3% stopping treatment because of side effects, of which less than 1% were due to gastrointestinal side effects. The most common side effects were flushing (affecting approximately 44%) and gastrointestinal discomfort (approximately 31%).
This phase III study recruited 504 participants with relapsing remitting MS who took either diroximel fumarate or Tecfidera for 5 weeks in order to compare gastrointestinal side effects. Participants completed daily questionnaires to assess gastrointestinal symptoms and their impact on daily activities and work. People taking diroximel fumarate experienced fewer days of gastrointestinal symptoms, took less medication for gastrointestinal symptoms and missed less work compared to Tecfidera. The overall proportion of participants stopping treatment because of side effects was 1.6% for diroximel fumarate and 5.6% for Tecfidera. Those who stopped treatment because of gastrointestinal problems was 0.8% for diroximel fumarate and 4.8% for Tecfidera.
The main side effects reported for Vumerity were gastrointestinal discomfort which was mild to moderate in approximately 30% of participants and severe in 1% and flushing or flushing-related side effects which affected 44% of participants. Flushing side effects improved in 74% of those affected, on average within 3-4 days.
Other side effects included:
