June 13, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS 30 years after MS was first treatable, challenges remain amid triumphs It’s been three decades since the first treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) was approved. In that time, the field has made substantial advances ā including the approval of over two dozen medications ā but there’s still a long way to go to improve care for progressive forms of…
March 31, 2022 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Most Patients Adhere to Betaseron Therapy Over 1 Year, App Data Show Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) had over 90% treatment compliance ā the percentage of doses administered ā over one year, according to a study of data collected by the BETACONNECT autoinjector and the myBETAapp. After one year, the number of patients still using Betaseron…
September 1, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Interferon Beta-1b Effective, Safe for Older MS Patients: Real-world Study A real-world study confirmed the effectiveness and safety of interferon beta-1b in treating older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), those over the age of 40. āThese findings from a real-world setting are promising and demonstrate the positive benefit-risk ratio for [interferon beta-1b] in this study population of middle-aged and…
August 30, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias Another Study Shows That Costs of Disease-modifying Therapies Are Zooming It probably comes as no surprise to you that the costs of some of the most popular MS medications have been soaring. A new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh reports that their list prices have more than quadrupled in a decade. And out-of-pocket costs rose even more.
August 29, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Poor Sleep Common in MS, Linked to Fatigue, Depression, and Anxiety, Study Reports Poor sleep quality is very common among patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and is associated with a lower quality of life, and greater fatigue, depression and anxiety, according to a real-world study in patients treated with Betaferon (interferon beta-1b). The study, ā…
May 9, 2018 Columns by Cathy Chester The Agony of Decision-making when It’s Time to Switch MS Medications Iām agonizing over an important decision and it’s driving me crazy. Iām usually a quick decision-maker, but this one is tough. I have my analytical hat on, trying to look at my choices from a scientific standpoint. Unfortunately, my anxiety kicks in, and my hat…
February 13, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Bayer Introduces Self-injecting Device to Help Growing Number of MS Patients in Middle East An increaseĀ in multiple sclerosisĀ cases in the Middle East and North Africa has promptedĀ BayerĀ to introduce to the region an injector that patients can use to treat themselves. Researchers have suggested that increases in the region’s cases stem from many people adopting Western lifestyles, including smoking and using sun…
January 23, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Who Are You to Tell Me What MS Therapy I Need? I’m used to seeing insurance companies here in the United States make decisions about MS therapies, including refusing to pay for certain treatments unless other, less expensive ones are tried first. These, of course, are decisions that should be made between patients and their doctors, not by insurers.
December 22, 2017 News by Catarina Silva Britain’s National Health Service Likely to Cover the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Extavia Britain’sĀ National Health ServiceĀ should cover the multiple sclerosis therapy Extavia, the National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceĀ (NICE) has recommended. The health service usually follows the institute’s recommendations. So NICE’s endorsement means there is a good chance the health service will begin covering the Extavia prescriptions that…
December 8, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Novartis’ Gilenya Improves Cognition, Reduces Relapses and MS Lesions, Phase 4 Trial Shows Ā Novartis' Gilenya and interferon beta-1b-based therapies stop multiple sclerosis patients' cognitive decline, a Phase 4 clinical trial shows. Gilenya (fingolimod) also reduces patients' relapses and the number of their brain lesions ā areas where a protein coating that protects nerve cells has deteriorated, researchers found.
October 9, 2017 News by Ashraf Malhas, PhD BETACONNECT Auto-injector Helps MS Patients Stick with Treatment, Study Reports Most multiple sclerosis patients who try Bayer’sĀ BETACONNECTĀ auto-injector stick with their treatment, a study reports. The electronic product may overcome the problem of many patients failing to stick to a therapy Ā schedule because of what they consider hassles connected with injections. An auto-injector is one that patients can use…
October 20, 2016 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Relapses and Dislike of Needles Among Reasons MS Patients Stop Betaferon Treatment Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with more advanced disease, as evidenced by disability, and those more frequent relapses or aversion to needles are among the groups of peopleĀ at higher risk of discontinuing Betaferon (interferon beta-1b) treatment, researchers report. These findings may help to alert clinicians toĀ those least likely to adhere to…
September 30, 2016 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Satisfaction with MS Therapy Influenced by Doctor-Patient Communication, Study Finds A study published in the BMC Neurology journal emphasizedĀ that clear and regularĀ communication between physicians and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential for patient satisfaction with a given treatment, which could result in therapy persistence. Uwe Zettl and colleagues conducted the study, āComparative evaluation of patientsā…
August 19, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD MS Progression Slower in People Who Begin Betaseron Therapy at First Signs of Disease, 11-Year Study Says Relapsing multiple sclerosis patients who begin taking Betaferon/Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) immediately after the first MS-related neurologic symptoms appear mayĀ realize slower disease progression thanĀ those who delay treatment, according to aĀ study evaluating the therapy’sĀ effects over a decade in patients enrolledĀ inĀ aĀ Phase 3 clinical trial. The study, “The 11-year long-term follow-up…
August 15, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Treating MS Soon After Symptoms Appear Can Delay Relapses, Study Says A long-term study underscoresĀ the potentialĀ benefits, especially in terms of relapses,Ā ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients beginning treatment as soon as possible after symptomsĀ appear ā even before the disease is definitely diagnosed.Ā āThe 11-year long-term follow-up study from the randomized BENEFIT CIS trialā was published in the journal Neurology. Researchers in…
June 3, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Interview with Bayer’s VP and General Manager on Betaconnect/Betaseron and Customized Therapy Global pharmaĀ Bayer HealthcareĀ aims toĀ improve human health by diagnosing, preventing, and treating a variety of diseases. The company currently provides products for general medicine, hematology, neurology, oncology, and women’s healthcare. In 1993, Bayer’s BetaseronĀ (interferon beta-1b) became the first disease-modifying drugĀ to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Ā for…