Optimizing IFN Beta - 1B Dose — Optims  

Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial

Official title: Optimizing IFN Beta - 1B Dose

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

BetaferonR is effective in reducing relapse rate and MRI T2-weighted lesion frequency in MS patients at the dose of 8 MIU on alternate days (THE IFNB MS Study Group, 1993). Relapse rate is reduced by 30-35% (The IFNB MS Study Group, 1993), MRI activity is decreased up to 100% in most cases (Stone et al 1995). In some patients, however, MRI activity still occurs or reappears during treatment (Stone et al 1995). MRI activity has been demonstrated to correlate with relapse occurrence (McFarland et al, 1992; Miller et al, 1996), and in some patients relapses still occur during IFN beta treatment. In other patients relapses may occur in association with the appearance, after 9-18 months of treatment, of anti-IFN beta NAB (The IFNB M S Study Group, 1995).

This protocol hypothesizes that the dose of 12 MIU BetaferonR on alternate days has more pronounced MRI and clinical effects in MS patients than that of 8 MIU. MS patients who do not respond to 8 MIU may take advantage of a higher dose. We, therefore decided to assess MRI effects after increasing the Betaferon dose (12 MIU) in RRMS patients showing a residual MRI activity (at least one new Gd enhancing lesion) during six months of standard Betaferon dose treatment (8 MIU).

Clinical Trial Description

Comparing the frequency of new Gd enhancing lesions in a group of patients presenting a residual MRI activity during the last four months of the six month standard dose (8MIU) Betaferon treatment randomized to continue the standard dose or to increase the dose to 12 MIU Betaferon ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Multiple Sclerosis

• NCT number: NCT00473213
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Turin, Italy
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 3
• Start date: September 1999
• Completion date: February 2004