Extended observations on MS patients treated with IM interferon-beta 1a (Avonex (TM)): implications for modern MS trials and therapeutics - Presentedin part at Pathogenic and Regulatory Cells in Demyelinating Diseases, Rome, Italy, September 12-15, 1999.

Extended observations of the pivotal phase III clinical trial of interferon -beta 1a (IFN beta 1a; Avonex(TM), Biogen) in relapsing MS patients reveale d that: (1) active treatment significantly slowed the accumulation of physi cal disability over time, reduced clinical exacerbations and MRI brain lesi ons; (2) clinical efficacy did not depend on disability endpoints; (3) acti ve treatment benefited multiple MRI measures of brain lesions: (4) cerebral atrophy occurred over 2 years in relatively mildly disabled patients; and (5) Avonex(TM) could slow the development of atrophy after the first year o f treatment. Data from this study were recently used to design a new outcom e measure for MS clinical trials (the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composi te), and was also the basis for two ongoing studies of IFN beta 1a: one in patients with monosymptomatic onset of MS and the other in secondary progre ssive MS. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V: All rights reserved.