Copaxone Used for First-Episode/CIS Halves MS Risk

PARIS — Early treatment with a key drug to fight multiple sclerosis (MS) nearly halves the risk of progression to the full-blown disease, according to a study [...]

• Caroline says: Copaxone was studied in first-episode/clinically isolated syndrome "CIS"/possible MS patients and it was found to reduce the risk of clinically definite MS by 45%. That's serious.
   

• First 10-Year Follow-Up Shows That AVONEX® Leads To Long-Term Benefits In Early MS Pts

  July 4, 2009 Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced data results from the CHAMPIONS (Controlled High-Risk AVONEX® (interferon beta-1a) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Prevention Study In Ongoing Neurologic Surveillance) [...]

  • Caroline says: Avonex, Betaseron, and Copaxone have all been approved to treat a first episode of possible MS (Rebif is currently recruiting for their Ph III trial and not far behind in FDA approval). These findings are very significant for those with a first episode because they determine that there was a 40% reduction in conversion to clinically definite MS in pts treated immediately after a first episode. I think that all 10-year follow up studies involving interferons being administered after a first episode will yield similar results. This is very good news for those with a first episode or "possible MS".