SWITCHING FROM ONABOTULINUMTOXIN-A TO ABOBOTULINUMTOXIN-A IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY TREATED FOR SPASTICITY: A RETROSPECTIVE SAFETY AND EFFICACY EVALUATION

Objectives: To determine whether switching from onabotulinumtoxin-A to abobotulinumtoxin-A in children with cerebral palsy is safe and whether therapeutic efficacy is maintained. Methods: This retrospective observational study of routine care included 118 children with cerebral palsy (mean age 81.4 months (standard deviation 38.9)) who had switched from onabotulinumtoxinA to abobotulinumtoxin-A injections into their lower extremities due to a change in hospital policy. Analysis was limited to the final onabotulinumtoxin-A treatment-cycle prior to switch, and the first abobotulinumtoxin- A treatment-cycle following switch. The primary objective was to document the safety and tolerability of switching products. Efficacy endpoints included muscle tone, spasticity, and gait function based on Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Tardieu Scale (TS) and Observational Gait Scale (OGS) scores. Results: Treatment-emergent adverse events were recorded in 41 (34.7%) and 31 (26.3%) patients during the onabotulinumtoxin-A and abobotulinumtoxin- A treatment cycles, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 5 patients in the onabotulinumtoxin-A treatment-cycle vs 7 in the abobotulinumtoxin-A treatment-cycle (p = 0.774). Treatment efficacy (4-6 weeks post-treatment) was similar in the onabotulinumtoxin-A and abobotulinumtoxin- A treatment-cycles for all variables (MAS, TS, OGS). Conclusion: In children with cerebral palsy, switching from onabotulinumtoxin-A to abobotulinumtoxin- A is safe and generally well-tolerated and therapeutic efficacy is maintained.