Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate long-term treatment persistence and safety of natalizumab in Finnish multiple sclerosis patients. The secondary objectives were to assess patient characteristics, use of natalizumab-related safety protocol, and treatment persistence in patients with different anti-John Cunningham virus antibody statuses (John Cunningham virus status).

Materials & Methods: All adult multiple sclerosis patients in the Finnish multiple sclerosis register who started natalizumab between 1/2006 and 12/2018 were included in this study and followed retrospectively until treatment discontinuation or end of follow-up (12/2019).

Results: In total, 850 patients were included. Median duration of natalizumab treatment was 7.8 years in John Cunningham virus negative (n=229) and 2.1 years in John Cunningham virus positive patients (n=115; p < 0.001). The most common cause for treatment discontinuation was John Cunningham virus positivity. After natalizumab discontinuation, patients who had a washout duration of less than 6 weeks had fewer relapses during the first 6 months (p=0.012) and 12 months (p=0.005) compared with patients who had a washout duration of over 6 weeks. During the median follow-up of 3.6 years, 76% of patients remained stable or improved on their Expanded Disability Status Scale.

Conclusions: Treatment persistence was very high among John Cunningham virus negative patients. The study supports long-term effectiveness of natalizumab and a washout duration of less than 6 weeks after discontinuation.