PEGylated interferon beta-1a: meeting an unmet medical need in the treatment of
relapsing multiple sclerosis.
Author(s): Baker DP, Pepinsky RB, Brickelmaier M, Gronke RS, Hu X, Olivier K, Lerner M,
Miller L, Crossman M, Nestorov I, Subramanyam M, Hitchman S, Glick G, Richman S,
Liu S, Zhu Y, Panzara MA, Davar G.
Affiliation(s): BiogenIdec Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA. darren.baker@biogenidec.com
Publication date & source: 2010, J Interferon Cytokine Res. , 30(10):777-85
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system
for which a number of disease-modifying therapies are available, including
interferon beta (Avonex®, Rebif®, and Betaseron/Betaferon®), glatiramer acetate
(Copaxone®), and an anti-VLA4 monoclonal antibody (Tysabri®). Despite the
availability and efficacy of these protein and peptide drugs, there remains a
significant number of patients who are untreated, including those with relatively
mild disease who choose not to initiate therapy, those wary of injections or
potential adverse events associated with therapy, and those who have stopped
therapy due to perceived lack of efficacy. Since these drugs have side effects
that may affect a patient's decision to initiate and to remain on treatment,
there is a need to provide a therapy that is safe and efficacious but that
requires a reduced dosing frequency and hence a concomitant reduction in the
frequency of side effects. Here we describe the development of a PEGylated form
of interferon beta-1a that is currently being tested in a multicenter,
randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study in relapsing
multiple sclerosis patients, with the aim of determining the safety and efficacy
of 125 microg administered via the subcutaneous route every 2 or 4 weeks.
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