Intramuscular Interferon--1a: In Patients at High Risk of Developing Clinically Definite Multiple Sclerosis

Authors: M. Asif A. Siddiqui; Keri Wellington

Source: CNS Drugs, Volume 19, Number 1, 2005 , pp. 55-61(7)

Publisher: Adis International

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Abstract:

Intramuscular interferon- beta

-1a, a recombinant interferon- beta

approved in the US for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), has also been evaluated in the treatment of patients with a first clinical demyelinating episode and brain lesions consistent with MS confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

In a randomised, double-blind trial, patients at high risk of developing clinically definite MS who received intramuscular interferon- beta

-1a 30

g once weekly had a 44% reduction in the cumulative probability of developing MS, compared with placebo recipients (rate ratio 0.56; p = 0.002), over a 3-year period after a first, MRI-confirmed demyelinating event.

These results were supported by MRI findings that showed significantly smaller increases in the volume of brain lesions and the number of new/enlarging and gadolinium-enhancing lesions in interferon- beta

-1a recipients than in those receiving placebo.

A nonblind extension of this trial demonstrated that early treatment with interferon- beta

-1a significantly reduced the probability of developing MS by 35% (p = 0.03), compared with delayed treatment, over a 5-year period.

Intramuscular interferon- beta

-1a was generally well tolerated; however, influenza-like syndrome was documented in >50% of patients at high risk of developing clinically definite MS who received the drug.

Keywords: Adis Drug Profiles; Interferon beta 1a, general; Multiple sclerosis, treatment

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand

Publication date: 2005-01-01