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Abstract
Importance of the field: High-dose, high-frequency IFN β-1a in multiple sclerosis (MS) can prevent lesion formation, decrease the frequency/severity of relapses and delay progression of disability, with a proven safety profile. Rates of non-adherence are high. There are drugs under investigation that may have greater efficacy and different safety profiles from existing therapies.
Areas covered in this review: Evidence supporting the efficacy of IFN β-1a, factors contributing to non-adherence, and strategies to combat non-adherence. It is hoped that these strategies, coupled with future advances in pharmacogenetics, might lead to better outcomes. The PubMed database was searched using the terms “multiple sclerosis” and “interferon beta-1a”, for papers published between 1998 and 2010. Relevant manuscripts and pivotal papers from clinical trials were cited. Searches of abstracts from congresses were also performed to obtain recent findings.
What the reader will gain: An overview of early pivotal trials, comparative studies with other treatments, and recent studies assessing the development of this therapy.
Take home message: Long-term treatment with IFN β-1a has benefits in MS and a good safety profile. Although adherence outside of clinical trials can be poor, injection devices, better tolerated drug formulations and education regarding treatment expectations are some of the strategies employed to help patients to adhere to treatment in the hope of improving outcomes.
Acknowledgements
The author thanks S Jones (ACUMED) and A Plant (Caudex Medical), both supported by Merck Serono SA – Geneva, Switzerland (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), and Sarah-Jane Loveday (Merck Serono SA – Geneva) for their assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.