Consensus Management of Gastrointestinal Events Associated with Delayed-Release Dimethyl Fumarate: A Delphi Study

Abstract

Introduction: Delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF, also known as gastro-resistant DMF) is indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (AEs) occur with DMF therapy. Methods: We used a Delphi process to reach consensus among North American clinicians on effective real-world management strategies for GI AEs associated with DMF. Clinicians were asked to complete two rounds of questionnaires developed by a steering committee; consensus in round 2 was attained if ≥70% of respondents agreed on a particular strategy. Results: Consensus was reached on several strategies to manage GI AEs, including administering DMF with food, slow titration, dose reduction, and use of symptomatic therapies. Conclusion: These consensus strategies provide clinicians with information on real-world approaches used to address the tolerability of DMF in patients with multiple sclerosis. Funding: Biogen.