HOT off the CMSC Press: Rebif at first sign of MS delays progression

Starting interferon-beta-1a (Rebif New Formulation) immediately upon an episode of a clinically isolated syndrome delayed progression to full-blown multiple sclerosis, but once-weekly treatment was less effective than [...]

• Caroline says: Rebif is more effective than Avonex at delaying time to diagnosis of clinically definite MS after a first clinical event (CIS), according to researchers at the annual consortium of MS centers. The study's purpose was to determine if more frequent interferon dosing was more effective than once-weekly dosing.
   

• Related Links:
• http://www.mstrust.org.uk/news/recentstories/article.jsp?id=4737…

• HOT off the AAN 2011 Press: Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) shines over Rebif in clinical trials

  Five years’ worth of mid-stage data for Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) showed that 65% of patients were free of clinically-active disease, compared to 27% on Merck’s interferon treatment Rebif. [...]

  • Caroline says: Genzyme's drug Lematrada (currently branded as Campath in the US) showed very positive results when compared with Rebif. According to data presented at AAN this year, 72% of patients treated with Lemtrada were relapse-free compared with 41% of patients taking Rebif. Lemtrada has been fast-tracked by the FDA, and should be approved in early 2012.
     
  • Related Links:
  • http://www.inpharm.com/news/154390/genzyme-multiple-sclerosis-lemtrada-alemtuzum…
  
  

  • HOT off the ECTRIMS Press: Rebif Prefilled Pen

    Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the upcoming introduction of the new device RebiDose(TM), the Rebif(R) single use pre-filled pen, for the [...]

    • Caroline says: I'm actually surprised that this is just coming out now for Rebif. The autoject pre-filled dose pens have been around for years for other MS injectables.
       
    • Related Links:
    • http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=300836…
    
    

    • Hot off the ECTRIMS Press…Alemtuzumab Shows Lasting Benefits in RRMS

      (RTTNews) -  Friday, biotechnology company Genzyme Corp. said that four-year follow-up data from its completed Phase 2 multiple sclerosis trial continued to show durable reductions in relapse rate [...]

      • Caroline says: The possibility of alemtuzumab (Campath) being FDA approved for MS should excite some of you b-cell MS'ers. Genzyme says that four-year follow-up data from its completed Phase 2 MStrial show durable reductions in relapse rate and sustained accumulation of disability three years after the majority of patients received their last course of the investigational compound alemtuzumab.
         
      
      

      • Hot off the ECTRIMS Press…Fewer Injection Site Reactions with Avonex

        CAMBRIDGE, MA – Sept. 11, 2009 – Data from an observational phase IV study of 499 patients entitled The Swiss MS Skin Project show that multiple sclerosis [...]

        • Caroline says: I think it is important to note that injection site reactions are different than side effects (see my side effect post here)...so, this study makes sense since Avonex is a once-weekly injection and the other injectables are administered more frequently -- and thus are more likely to cause site reactions.
           
        
        

        • Hot off the ENS Press…Rebif Autoinject Improves SC Delivery

          MILAN, Italy June 26, 2009 A new electronic, multidose, autoinjection device improves subcutaneous delivery of interferon beta (IFNB)-1a in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to [...]

          • Caroline says: I've seen links to this in the last week but when I clicked on them, the link was dead...UNTIL NOW...mwah, mwah, mwah. I think it was embargoed until it was presented yesterday. Rebif is the one drug out of the CRABs (who was responsible for coming up with THAT acronym, anyway?) that I have not had the pleasure of being on. It's interferon-1a (like Avonex), only it is administered three-times weekly subcutaneously.