Frequently asked questions
Have a question about PONVORY®? You can find the answers to our frequently asked questions (FAQs) below.
If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, be sure to ask your healthcare professional, or you can contact us.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which your own immune cells attack and damage your central nervous system (CNS). This affects the way the CNS processes information and communicates with the rest of your body.
The exact way PONVORY® works in MS is unknown, but it is believed to work by reducing the number of immune cells, called lymphocytes, in the blood. This may help keep lymphocytes out of the CNS where they could cause damage.
In a clinical study that lasted ~2 years, PONVORY® was compared with a proven oral therapy (Aubagio®). In this study, PONVORY® was shown to reduce the average number of relapses per year and the average number of new gadolinium-enhancing (GdE) T1 and new or enlarging T2 lesions. PONVORY® slowed 3-month disability progression in most people. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentages of people experiencing disability progression between PONVORY® and Aubagio®.
Learn more about proven results with PONVORY® here.
Before starting treatment with PONVORY®, talk to your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
It's especially important to tell your healthcare professional if you take any medicines to control your heart rhythm (antiarrhythmics), blood pressure (antihypertensives), or heart beat (such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers), and medicines that affect your immune system such as alemtuzumab, and other medicines including rifampin, phenytoin, or carbamazepine.
It’s important to know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medications with you to show your healthcare professional and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
There are no clinical data available on the efficacy and safety of vaccinations in people taking PONVORY®.
For live vaccines (eg, varicella-zoster, MMR):
- The use of live attenuated vaccines may carry the risk of infection and should therefore be avoided during PONVORY® treatment and for 1 to 2 weeks after discontinuation of treatment with PONVORY®
- PONVORY® should be paused 1 to 2 weeks prior to and until 4 weeks after a planned vaccination
For non-live vaccines (eg, tetanus, COVID-19, injectable flu formulations):
- No dose adjustment or discontinuation of PONVORY® treatment was required for non-live vaccinations in the phase 3 clinical study
Talk to your healthcare professional before you receive any vaccines while taking PONVORY®.
Before you start treatment with PONVORY®, your healthcare professional may conduct:
- Blood work to test your overall health, liver function, and antibodies to varicella-zoster virus
- Eye and heart evaluations, including an electrocardiogram (ECG)
It's also important to let your healthcare professional know about all of your medical conditions and the current or prior medicines you have taken, including vaccinations, before you get started with PONVORY®.
If you miss taking 1, 2, or 3 PONVORY® pills in a row in the 14-Day Starter Pack, continue treatment by taking the first dose you missed as soon as you remember. Then, take 1 pill a day to continue with the Starter Pack dose as planned.
If you miss taking 1, 2, or 3 PONVORY® pills in a row while taking the 20 mg maintenance dose, continue treatment with the 20 mg maintenance dose.
If you miss 4 or more PONVORY® pills in a row while taking the Starter Pack or the maintenance dose, you need to restart treatment with a new Starter Pack. Call your healthcare professional if you miss 4 or more doses of PONVORY®. Do not restart PONVORY® after stopping it for 4 or more days in a row without talking to your healthcare professional. If you have certain heart conditions, you may need to be monitored by your healthcare professional for at least 4 hours when you take your next dose.
To avoid missing doses of PONVORY®, write down the date you start taking it so you will know if you miss 4 or more doses in a row.
Find more information on how to take PONVORY® here.
PONVORY® can be taken with or without food.
The most common side effects with PONVORY® include upper respiratory tract infections, elevated liver enzymes (abnormal liver tests), and high blood pressure.
Learn more about the safety profile of PONVORY® here.
