Immediate initiation of Betaseron® (interferon beta-1b) treatment in patients with a first event suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) can significantly reduce the risk of permanent neurological impairment as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) by 40 % over three years compared to delayed treatment.
Such were the new data announced by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and recently presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
According to Dr. Mark S. Freedman, Professor of Neurology at the University of Ottawa and investigator of the study:
"Some patients have already developed significant neurological damage when they first present with signs of MS, which can lead to accumulated disability later in life.
The BENEFIT results clearly show that immediate treatment with Betaseron initiated after the first clinical event can significantly reduce that damage, which could translate into a greater delay in the time it takes for patients to suffer from the debilitating consequences of MS.
This is a truly novel finding that has not yet been demonstrated for any other immunomodulatory MS treatment, and underscores the urgent need to treat patients early, rather than waiting for further signs of MS to develop.
Physicians and patients should consider these unprecedented findings when making treatment decisions."
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals’ Betaseron® (Interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations.
Find more details from the full report.
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