None of the approved immunomodulatory drugs in adults Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients have been officially approved for the pediatric patients and are currently used off-label in this population. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of intramuscular interferon beta1-a (Avonex(®)) and subcutaneously injected interferon beta1-b (Betaferon(®)) in children with definite r...

Determining to what extent biophysical characteristics of aggregates affect immunogenicity of therapeutic interferon beta-1b. Three recombinant human interferon beta-1b (rhIFNβ-1b) samples with different levels of aggregates generated by copper oxidation, thermal stress, or left untreated, as well as Avonex(®) drug substance and Betaferon(®) drug product, were injected intraperitoneally in nont...

BACKGROUND Differences in Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapy (DMT) prescribing patterns between different groups of neurologists have not been explored. OBJECTIVE To examine concentrations of prescribing patterns and to assess if MS-specialists use a broader range of DMTs relative to general neurologists. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study using administrative claim...

The treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has become more effective over the last decade with the advent of the currently available disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Pivotal clinical studies differ in many characteristics, such that cross-comparisons of relative risk reductions are of limited value and can be misleading. Our objective was to compare the clinical efficacy ...

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the world and provides care to approximately 20,000 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Here, we report that these MS patients are disproportionately more likely to be older, male, unemployed, and disabled with lower levels of education and financial resources when compared to veterans not receiving care withi...

Beta interferon − INF 1b: Betaferon® and Extavia® (vial 250 g) INF 1a: Avonex® (vial 30 g); Rebif® (vial 22–44 g). Both also in syringes and preloaded containers. RR MS Pseudo-fever syndrome, depression, psychiatric disorders, moderate myelosuppression, hypotension, high liver enzymes, cough, dyspnea, proteinuria, OHT, hyperuricemia, KI, neuropathy, confusion, edema, hair loss, digestive altera...

We aimed to compare the therapeutic effect of Avonex (Av), Betaferon (Be) & Rebif (Re) on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Ninety patients referring to Farshchian Hospital were entered in this study. The patients were divided into three equal groups: group 1 received Av, group 2 received Re and group 3 received Be, and after 24 months, comparison was done ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate concurrent and predictive validity for low-contrast letter acuity (L-CLA) testing as a candidate visual component for the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). METHODS L-CLA testing was conducted in two MS patient cohorts. In the MSFC Validation Study, 137 participants from a Phase III trial of inteferon beta-1a (Avonex) for relapsing-remitting MS were followed...

G optic neuritis is still somewhat of a management puzzle for ophthalmologists despite two excellent studies in recent years, says Anthony C. Arnold, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Chief of the Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology, and Director of the Optic Neuropathy Center at the Jules Stein Eye Institute. “Whether to treat typical monosymptomatic optic neuritis with steroids or not has always be...