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Beta-Interferon/Betaseron

Beta-interon(interferon beta-1b)(known in the USA as Betaseron) was the first beta interferon to be approved and marketed in the USA. As with all beta-interferons, it shuts down the inflammation of MS lesions through various mechanisms including repairing the blood brain barrier and reducing the inflammatory process in the lesions. Betaseron decreases relapse rate, increases time between attacks, decreases the severity of attacks, while decreasing the amount of accumulated lesions seen on MRI. Betaseron is given every other day by means of subcutaneous injection (under the skin) providing the highest dose of interferon-beta available for treatment of MS. Beta-interferon is approved for relapsing-remitting MS, and a recent European study showed some positive results in secondary progressive MS. Although, It is still in the testing stages.

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) is identical in chemical structure to Avonex. However it is given in subcutaneous rather than intramuscular injections, and in higher and more frequent doses than Avonex. Rebif is effective in reducing the number and severity of relapses, delaying the progression of disability, and reducing the number of new and accumulated lesions seen on MRI. Rebif has been used in Europe and Canada for over five years but was only recently approved by the FDA for use in the US after a head-to-head comparison to Avonex (the EVIDENCE study) showed superiority of Rebif in all clinical and MRI outcome measures. It is approved for use in relapsing-remitting MS. Rebif is available in pre-filled syringes.