interferon-beta-1a

Ocrevus Outperforms Rebif in Preventing Myelin Loss in Trial

Two years of treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) outperformed Rebif (interferon beta-1a) at preventing myelin loss in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new analysis of data from the OPERA II clinical trial. Ocrevus’ protection against demyelination was observed both in MS lesions,…

Let’s Treat Older MS Patients With More Respect

As comic Rodney Dangerfield might have said, older people with MS “just don’t get no respect.” By older, I mean those of us who are 55 and up. By respect, I mean from researchers and some neurologists. So, as I approach my 73rd birthday, I have to tip my cap…

#ECTRIMS2019 ā€” Biogen Presents New Real-world Data Demonstrating Clinical Benefits of Tysabri, Plegridy, and Avonex

Biogen is presenting new data highlighting the potential clinical benefits of Tysabri (natalizumab), Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a), and Avonex (interferon beta-1a) for the treatment of specific groups of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), including pregnant women and patients with relapsing forms of the disease. The new…

#EAN2018 ā€“ Ocrevus Lowers Relapse Rates Over Long Term and Better Than Rebif Does, Data Show

Long-term treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) Ā ā€” as well as switching from Rebif (interferon beta-1a) to Ocrevus ā€” leads to a significant and sustained reduction in disease activity in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). TheseĀ previouslyĀ reportedĀ findingsĀ are further supported by the latest results drawn from pooled data…

#ACTRIMS2018 – Relapsing MS Patients With Impaired Vision Improved on Ocrevus, Updated Trial Data Show

Ocrevus improved vision among relapsing multiple sclerosis patients who participated in the Phase 3 clinical trials of the treatment, according to updated analyses recently presented at the ACTRIMSĀ Forum 2018. While Ocrevus-treated patients improved their ability to read low-contrast letters over the course of the two trials, people who received Rebif (interferon beta-1a) did not. Laura J. Balcer, a neurologist at New York University Langone Medical Center, shared the data in a presentation titled, ā€œEffect of Ocrelizumab on Visual Outcomes in Patients with Baseline Visual Impairment in the OPERA Studies in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.ā€ Balcer had earlier shared data on the visual outcomes of relapsing patients in the OPERA I and OPERA II Phase 3 clinical trials of Ocrevus at the 7th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting in Paris, last year. The two studies ā€”Ā sponsored by Ocrevus developer Genentech, a member of the Roche group ā€” Ā compared Ocrevus and Rebif in patients with relapsing MS. This time, her presentation focused only on patients who had visual impairment when they enrolled in the trials. Among a total of 1,656 participants, 375 of those treated with Ocrevus and 373 in the Rebif group had visual impairment. Researchers tested vision using a low-contrast letter acuity test. The test is similar to an ordinary vision test, with letters of different sizes on a chart. But the low-contrast test uses gray lettersĀ ā€” instead of black ā€” on a white background. Researchers included charts with two shades of gray to test different contrast levels. These tests can detect reduced visual function. At the beginning of the trials, both groups performed in a similar manner ā€”Ā correctly identifying about 35 letters on a chart with somewhat higher contrast. After 96 weeks, those receiving Ocrevus identified on average 3.4 more letters, while Rebif-treated patients worsened by 0.5 letters ā€” a significant difference, Balcer said. Researchers tested vision every 12 weeks. At the end of the trials, they found that 39 percent more patients in the Ocrevus groups had a cumulative improvement of at least 10 letters, compared to those treated with Rebif. At this time, 26.4 percent of Ocrevus-treated patients improved 10 letters or more, compared to 19.8 percent in the Rebif group. The difference between the groups for at least seven letters was 54 percent, with Ocrevus-treated patients performing better. Researchers believe that a seven-letter change is the minimal clinically important difference for the test. Based on the results, researchers believe that the findings demonstrate Ocrevusā€™ ability to reverse visual impairment in relapsing MS. The ACTRIMS Forum 2018 isĀ being held in San Diego, California, Feb. 1ā€“3.

Patient Opinions on Zinbryta Seen to Match Phase 3 Trial Data, Supporting Questionnaire Use

More relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated withĀ Zinbryta (daclizumab)Ā said they feltĀ itsĀ health benefitsĀ than did thoseĀ givenĀ Avonex (interferon beta-1a) ā€” demonstrating that patient-reported outcomes do mirror objective measures of improved health in a clinical trial ofĀ the two drugs. Patient-reported changesĀ in both physical and psychological health contribute to a more comprehensive picture of…

Lemtrada Lessens MS Disability in People Who Respond Poorly to Other Therapies, Study Says

Data from the CARE-MS II clinical trialĀ showed that Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) canĀ lessen pre-existing disabilities in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who failed to respond adequately to previous disease-modifying therapies, according to a study of the trial’s data. The treatment was evaluated againstĀ Rebif (interferon beta-1a)Ā therapy. The study, ā€œAlemtuzumab…

RedHill Awaits Patent for RHB-104, Potential MS Treatment, from Japan

RedHill BiopharmaĀ recentlyĀ announcedĀ that it hasĀ received a Notice of Allowance from theĀ Japan Patent Office for a new patent coveringĀ RHB-104 as a potentialĀ treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).Ā Once granted, the patent will be valid until 2032. The European Patent Office also recently approvedĀ a patent application for the drug with this…

RebiSmart Device Seen to Improve Adherence to Therapy in RRMS Patients

People with relapsing multiple sclerosis who use a device called RebiSmartĀ (Merck Serono) to self-inject medications like RebifĀ (interferon [IFN] beta-1a)Ā areĀ more likely to take their therapies on a regular schedule and adhere to that schedule, resulting in fewerĀ relapsesĀ than those not using the device, according to a retrospective study byĀ  researchers…

Merck Joins with HAPPYneuron to Add Cognitive Training Games to MSdialog

Merck Biopharma Ā announced it has entered intoĀ aĀ partnership with a French subsidiary calledĀ HAPPYneuron,Ā and now hasĀ an exclusive license to that companyā€™s cognitiveĀ remediation training program for multiple sclerosis (MS).Ā The program, a series of brain training games and exercises, will be made available to people needing itĀ throughĀ Merck’s MSdialog platform. An e-Health…

#CMSC16 – Medical Affairs VP at EMD Serono Discusses MS Drug Rebif, MS LifeLines Support in Exclusive Interview

EMD Serono,Ā the U.S. and Canadian subsidiary and biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA,Ā focuses exclusively on specialty care. With expertise inĀ fertility, endocrinology, oncology and neurology, the company is featuring several innovative products with therapeutic potential in the oncology, immuno-oncology, and immunology fields. Rebif (interferon beta-1a), EMD Serono’s therapyĀ for patients withĀ relapsing…

Young MS Patients in the US More Likely to Be Overweight and Suffer More Relapses Than Peers Elsewhere, Study Finds

Scientists at the Pediatric MS Center at NYU Langone, New York, reported that U.S. adolescents withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) receivingĀ interferon-beta 1a therapyĀ had a higher body mass index (BMI), more relapses, and were managed differently compared to patients of similar age in seven other countries. The study, “Subcutaneous…

RRMS Clinical Study of New Antibiotic Therapy Nearing End

RedHill Biopharma, Ltd., recently announced the conclusion of the last dosing and patient follow-up visit for its Phase 2a proof-of-concept study to assess the efficacy and safety of the experimental drug RHB-104 as an add-on therapy to interferon beta-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

New Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Drug Approved By FDA

Biogen Idec, a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hematologic conditions and autoimmune disorders, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PLEGRIDYTMĀ (peginterferon beta-1a), a new treatment for people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis…