Beyond the switch to the biosimilar of natalizumab: What is the impact of changing the JCV test?

Background: The biosimilar drug of natalizumab was marketed with a new anti-John Cunningham virus (JCV) assay (ImmunowellTM).

Objective: To compare the performance of the ImmunowellTM JCV assay to StratifyTM, the reference one.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively serological results from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) followed in four French MS centers and tested simultaneously in routine with both tests.

Results: Two hundred and fifty-nine patients were included. Results were positive in 23.6% with StratifyTM and 61.4% with ImmunowellTM. A binary discordance was found in 37.8%. Sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100%, with lower specificity (50.5%) and positive predictive value (38.4%) for ImmunowellTM. According to index value cutoffs, 42.9% of the results showed discordances, with a systematic higher risk estimate for ImmunowellTM. Most of them (83/111) were negative with StratifyTM and at low risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) (<0.8) with ImmunowellTM. Eighteen were upgraded to intermediate risk (0.8-1.4) and 10 to high risk (⩾1.4).

Conclusions: The ImmunowellTM JCV IgG assay is reliable to detect patients at risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, but the high rate of discrepancy is challenging in deciding to continue on natalizumab or not.