COVID-19 is a potentially fatal respiratory illness, caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which developed into a pandemic claiming the lives of over 500,000 people in the United States and over 2.5 million worldwide. Antibodies against the spike glycoprotein are believed to confer immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which is typically treated with immunomodulating medications, referred to as disease modifying therapies (DMTs). Some DMTs resulted in a diminished capacity to develop antibodies against natural infection with SARS-CoV-2. This study is designed to evaluate and compare the effect of DMTs on antibody response to mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. Serum samples will be collected from 30 participants per treatment arm at 8 weeks, 24 weeks, 36 weeks, and 48 weeks, following vaccination with mRNA-1273. Geometric mean titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG will be measured to evaluate and compare peak antibody titers, as well as the duration of antibody response. The results will likely impact clinical decision-making, and guide treatment strategies for safely managing MS during the ongoing pandemic.
This observational study is intended to evaluate the effect of disease modifying therapies on antibody responses to the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna) for COVID-19. We hypothesize that the use of certain disease modifying therapies, particularly ocrelizumab, will mute and/or shorten the duration of humoral response to mRNA vaccines.