Multiple sclerosis: follow-up of long-term therapy

Results from the 16-year follow-up to the Betaferon®/Betaseron® trial as published the U.S. journal Neurology provide the longest and most complete patient follow-up data and support the long-term safety profile of Betaferon in multiple sclerosis (MS). Results demonstrated that no new or unexpected adverse events emerged with long-term therapy, and the observed treatment-related adverse effects decreased over time.

“These data confirm that Betaseron® has a favorable safety and tolerability profile,” said Anthony T. Reder, Professor of Neurology at the University of Chicago and lead study author. “Over the years, health care professionals have been able to greatly reduce treatment-related adverse events and increase patients’ adherence to Betaseron® therapy with dose escalation at initiation of therapy and the routine use of an autoinjector and co-medication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.”

“MS is a chronic condition that requires treatment with a medication that combines efficacy with a safety profile that is manageable and predictable even over the long term,” said Leslie Donato, who is responsible for neurology at Bayer. “The results of the 16-year follow-up study underscore Betaferon’s positive safety and efficacy profile. We look forward to seeing additional outcomes from the 20-year follow-up study.”