ACTRIMS 2026 | HSCT versus high-efficacy therapies in multiple sclerosis: the BEAT-MS trial

Yeah, so that’s the big open question. There are a number of studies that suggest that hematopoietic stem cell transplant has superior efficacy as compared to the available high-efficacy treatments, but those studies are mostly based on analyses of registries, so they have some issues. So as a result, there are currently several randomized trials underway to compare hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to the available best therapies, the high-efficacy therapies. One of those that’s being conducted in the United States is the BEAT-MS trial. So this is an NIH-funded trial conducted by the Immune Tolerance Network, of which I am the principal investigator. And so that study is currently enrolling. And eligible participants are people with relapsing MS and continued disease activity despite treatment with one or more medications. And then the trial is comparing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to what we’re calling best available therapy. So a different high-efficacy medication, the choice of which is determined by the study investigator and the patient. So we’re hoping that that trial and some of the other ongoing trials will provide a more clear-cut answer to whether a transplant is superior to the high-efficacy therapies. And conversely, if someone is on a high-efficacy therapy and is failing, whether transplant is a good option for them.

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