Abstract
Objectives
Posthoc analysis of treatment satisfaction in patients switching to subcutaneous (SC) peginterferon beta-1a in the ALLOW study.
Patients and methods
Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis treated with intramuscular interferon (IFN) beta-1a or SC IFN beta-1a or beta-1b remained on their current therapy for a 4-week run-in period, followed by a switch to SC peginterferon beta-1a 125 mcg every 2 weeks for 48 weeks. Treatment satisfaction was measured using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), which covers effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction. Patients completed the TSQM at baseline (prior to starting the 4-week run-in period) and 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks after switching, and scores were analyzed for the overall population and compared to baseline. Patients reported the severity of flu-like symptoms (FLS) at baseline and with each peginterferon beta-1a injection; clinicians evaluated the occurrence of injection-site reactions (ISRs) after the first dose of peginterferon beta-1a and every 12 weeks thereafter. TSQM scores were stratified by the presence of FLS or ISRs during the study period and by prior IFN therapy use.
Results
For the overall population (n=194), convenience and global satisfaction scores significantly improved from baseline at all time points, and side effect satisfaction scores significantly improved up to week 36. Convenience scores significantly improved regardless of FLS, ISRs, or prior IFN therapy. Patients without FLS during the study period showed significant improvements in global satisfaction, but not side effect satisfaction, versus those with FLS. Patients switching from SC IFN therapies achieved greater improvements in treatment satisfaction than patients who switched from intramuscular IFN beta-1a.
Conclusions
Switching relapsing multiple sclerosis patients to SC peginterferon beta-1a from other IFN therapies significantly improved treatment satisfaction and convenience.
Supplementary material
Table S1 List of local ethics committees
Table S2 Baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the ALLOW study
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the patients who volunteered for this study and the many site staff members who helped to conduct the study. The authors were assisted in the preparation of the manuscript by Jenna Steere of CircleScience (New York, NY, USA). Writing and editorial support were funded by the study sponsor, Biogen (Cambridge, MA, USA). The authors had full editorial control of the manuscript and provided their final approval for all content.
Author contributions
All authors contributed toward study design and/or data analysis, as well as drafting and revising the paper, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
BH is a paid consultant and/or speaker for Acorda, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genzyme, Mallinckrodt, Novartis, and Teva. RTN is a consultant and/or speaker for Acorda, Alkermes, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genentech, Genzyme, EMD Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, and Questcor. SEW is a paid consultant, speaker, and/or contract researcher for Acorda, Bayer, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genentech/Roche, Genzyme, Novartis, Questcor, Receptos, and Teva. DH is a paid consultant and/or speaker for Biogen, Novartis, and Teva Neuroscience. QD and DLJ were employees of Biogen at the time of this work. TL, CW, and MJ are employees and stockholders of Biogen. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.