Octopus Analysis Update
Over the last 18 months, the Octopus Trial team has been thinking carefully about the planned Analysis Stage 1 which takes place this September 2026 with data-lock on 1st July 2026.
Originally, Analysis Stage 1 was just going to be based on the MRI data of the 384 participants recruited. However, over the last 2 years, since the trial was commenced, two important external trials (HERCULES and ORATORIO-HAND) presented results where, despite an effect on slowing progression, there was less effect on the MRI atrophy outcomes than expected. This has led the Octopus Trial team to augment the analysis with data on Clinical Reported Outcomes (EDSS, 25Foot Timed Walk and 9Hole Peg Test). Therefore now Analysis Stage 1 will include this information not just on the original 384 participants, but also additionally subsequent participants in the non-MRI dataset, forming a composite, as well as the individual elements.
This was approved for use in Protocol 9.0 (February 2026) and released to sites in April 2026. It has been discussed as part of an editorial in the Lancet on MAMS trials (May 2026) and published in a technical paper ln June 2026 (see citations below).
Alongside the MS research community, the Octopus Trial team acknowledges how important having reliable outcome measures for MS Progression are, for the development of new treatments. The MS Community and Octopus Trial team looks forward to the Octopus trial data making significant contributions to this vital area of research.
Malhotra P, Pal S, Tallantyre E, Foltynie T, Carroll C, Chandran S, Carpenter J, Parmar M, Scott S, Chataway J. Multi-arm multi-stage platform trials for neurological disease: accelerating progress. The Lancet. 2026 May 30;407(10544):2154-6.
Burnell M, Nicholas J, Burton R, Chataway J, Apap Mangion S, Carpenter J. Using MRI whole brain atrophy and clinically reported outcomes in combination to assess interim treatment response in multi-arm multi-stage trials in progressive multiple sclerosis. medRxiv. 2026:2026-06. Posted 30th June 2026.
