EMD Serono’s Multiple Sclerosis Pipeline On Display at 2014 ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting in Boston

During the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ACTRIMS) and European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ECTRIMS), taking place in Boston from September 10-13, EMD Serono, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, will present new data from its multiple sclerosis (MS) portfolio.

EMD Serono, Inc., is a leading US biopharmaceutical company focused in neurology, fertility, and endocrinology, and holds a robust group of potential therapies in neurology, oncology, immunology and immuno-oncology. Among the MS patient population, the company is recognized as a key player in the development of current and future therapies for the disease.

The data shown by Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, will be on Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) and two experimental compounds, ATX MS-1467 and Plovamer Acetate (PI-2301). The posters presented will be: “ATX MS-1467 reduces MRI lesions and prevents disease progression in a humanized mouse model of multiple sclerosis” and “Plovamer Acetate (PI-2301) causes a more pronounced increase in eosinophils and CCL22 in naïve and EAE mice compared with glatiramer acetate.” Both compounds are being evaluated, respectively, in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for MS. Rebif ® (interferon beta-1a) is used to decrease the frequency of relapses and delay the occurrence of some of the physical disability common in people with MS. This therapy is not approved for treatment of chronic progressive MS and does not cure MS. Moreover, Rebif has many side effects including depression, liver problems, and risk to pregnancy, allergic reactions and injection-site problems.

In addition, ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS will serve as the venue for awarding the second annual recipients of the Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation (GMSI) Awards, which will be revealed by Merck KGaA at a satellite symposium on Friday, September 12 from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. ET (Room 312, Level 3). The grantees will share €1 million to sponsor their translational research projects in order to help improve the understanding of MS pathogenesis to help people living with the disease.

“The research presented at the joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS meeting reinforces EMD Serono’s commitment to addressing the unmet needs of people living with MS,” said Steven Hildemann, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and head of Global Medical Affairs and Global Drug Safety at Merck Serono. “ We continue to advance our understanding of the clinical effects of Rebif and demonstrate progress with our pipeline candidates, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative solutions and therapies for the MS community.” added Steven Hildemann.

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The following EMD Serono abstracts have been accepted for presentation at ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS 2014 meeting:

Rebif® (interferon β-1a) and Multiple Sclerosis

– No evident disease activity at 24 weeks in patients with relapsing MS treated with interferon β-1a SC vs. interferon β-1a IM in the EVIDENCE study (Poster P102, Clinical Trials; Thursday, September 11, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET)

– No evident disease activity in relapsing MS patients treated with interferon β-1a SC vs. interferon β-1a IM: subgroup analyses of the EVIDENCE study (Poster P104, Clinical Trials; Thursday, September 11, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET)

– Challenges experienced by neurologists in the individualization of multiple sclerosis treatment: findings from an international study (Poster P321, Disease Therapy; Thursday, September 11, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET)

– Multiple sclerosis treatment practices in women of child-bearing age in Switzerland: results of the women with MS online survey (Poster P325, Disease Therapy; Thursday, September 11, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET)

– Evolution of gadolinium-enhancing lesions into chronic black holes in patients treated with subcutaneous interferon β-1a in PRISMS and SPECTRIMS (Poster P470, Imaging-1; Thursday, September 11, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET)

– Natural evolution of gadolinium-enhancing lesions into chronic black holes in multiple sclerosis: analysis of PRISMS and SPECTRIMS placebo arms (Poster P473, Imaging-1; Thursday, September 11, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET)

– Assessing a predictive score for disease activity in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: post-hoc analysis of data from the SPECTRIMS study (Poster P766, Prognostic Factors; Friday, September 12, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. ET )

– Assessing a predictive score for long-term disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: 7/8-year follow-up in the PRISMS study (Poster P765, Prognostic Factors; Friday, September 12, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. ET)

– Cognition and fatigue in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis treated by subcutaneous interferon beta-1a: an observational study SKORE (Poster P780, PROs and QoL; Friday, September 12, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. ET)

– A prospective study comparing the impact of three levels of support services on interferon β adherence in patients with relapsing MS: interim results (Poster P828, Rehabilitation and Comprehensive Care; Friday, September 12, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. ET)

The above clinical candidates are currently under clinical investigation and have not been approved for use in the United States, Europe, Canada or elsewhere. The clinical candidates have not been proven to be safe or effective. The safety and effectiveness of these candidates can only be guaranteed after regulatory review of the data and approval.