Profile of PEGylated interferon beta in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Several treatments are currently available for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Among them, interferon (IFN) beta remains a valid treatment approach because of its good benefit/risk profile. Due to the need for frequent administration (weekly, at a minimum), the use of IFN beta is limited by uncomfortable side effects that could reduce adherence to and persistence with the treatment. The use of subcutaneous polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated interferon beta-1a (PEG-IFN) has been proposed to offer a better combination of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and therapy-related side effects. A 125 μg dose of PEG-IFN given every 2 or 4 weeks was tested in two Phase I studies and shown to be as safe and efficient as IFN beta-1a but with a longer half-life. A Phase III trial (ADVANCE) comparing 125 μg of PEG-IFN given every 2 or 4 weeks with placebo in 1,512 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis showed significant reductions in both the annualized relapse rate (ARR) and the occurrence of new or newly enlarged T2 brain lesions in both experimental groups versus placebo after the first year. Moreover, 38% fewer patients showed progression of disability (P=0.04) in the PEG-IFN groups. During the second year, the ARR was further reduced in the PEG-IFN 2-week treatment group (0.230 at 1 year versus 0.178 at 2 years) and was maintained in the 4-week treatment group. Patients who received immediate PEG-IFN treatment showed improved clinical efficacy (ARR, risk of relapse, 12-week disability progression) and magnetic resonance imaging parameters (new T2 and newly enlarging lesions, gadolinium-positive lesions) compared with those with delayed treatment. The effects were more evident with the 2-week dose for all endpoints considered. Furthermore, PEG-IFN was well tolerated, and no new safety concerns arose. In conclusion, PEG-IFN has good efficacy and a good safety profile. The available data support the use of PEG-IFN as a suitable therapeutic option in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Keywords:

• PEGylated interferon beta
• multiple sclerosis
• disease-modifying drug
• relapses
• magnetic resonance imaging
• safety

Interferon beta and multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that can potentially cause permanent disability in young adults.¹ Although the pathogenesis is unknown, MS is considered autoimmune in nature. No definitive therapies exist to cure MS, but a set of drugs is used to reduce the inflammatory activity (relapses and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] parameters) and to delay the progression of disability over time.¹

Interferon (IFN) beta has immunomodulatory properties, antiviral and antiproliferative effects, promotes cell differentiation, and exerts a pleiotropic mechanism of action in MS.² Among other effects, IFN beta:

• Downregulates the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on various antigen-presenting cells

• Reduces the migration of T-cells across the brain barriers by decreasing the secretion of proteolytic matrix metalloproteinases and surface-expressed adhesion molecules and by increasing the release of soluble adhesion molecules

• Induces a shift in cytokine networks in favor of an anti-inflammatory effect (Th2 cytokines)

• Suppresses T-cell proliferation

• Inhibits activation of monocytes.²

In 1993, subcutaneously administered IFN beta became the first officially approved drug available for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. A pivotal trial considered 372 MS patients randomized to receive placebo or IFN beta-1b at two dosages (50 or 250 μg subcutaneously every other day) and showed a significantly reduced annualized relapse rate (ARR) and reduced MRI activity in patients receiving IFN beta-1b compared with placebo. Moreover, a dose-related effect was evident.^3,4

After another pivotal study was completed, IFN beta-1a administered once weekly was approved in 1996. This study included 301 MS patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 1.0 and 3.5 and at least two relapses in the previous 3 years. Patients were randomized to receive placebo or IFN beta-1a (30 mg intramuscularly once a week) for 2 years.^5,6 The patients treated with IFN beta-1a showed significantly decreased disease activity when compared with the placebo-treated patients.^5,6

IFN beta-1a administered subcutaneously three times weekly was investigated in the PRISMS study,⁷ in which 560 patients (EDSS 1.0–5.0 and at least two relapses in the preceding 2 years) were randomized to receive placebo or IFN beta-1a at two different dosages (22 or 44 μg subcutaneously three times weekly). Treatment with IFN beta-1a significantly reduced the relapse rate and MRI activity compared with placebo treatment, with a statistically significant dose effect, and was approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS in 1998 in Europe and Canada and in 2002 in the USA.

Thus, regardless of formulation, IFN beta efficiently reduced the ARR by approximately 30% and decreased the appearance of brain MRI lesions over 2 or 3 years in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.⁸ A dose-response effect was demonstrated in head-to-head trials (EVIDENCE and INCOMIN) comparing different IFN beta formulations, with higher doses and more frequent administration showing greater effects than lower doses.^9,10

IFN beta also had a significant effect in the early stages of the disease, as demonstrated in three clinical trials (CHAMPS, ETOMS, and BENEFIT) performed in patients with clinically isolated syndrome.^11–13 In these trials, early IFN beta treatment delayed the development of clinically definite MS (by 40%–50%) and had a favorable effect on clinical and MRI disease activity.^11–13

IFN beta was also tested for secondary progressive MS in four randomized, placebo-controlled trials, but few effects on disability progression were evident.^14–18 Patients with secondary progressive MS and superimposed relapses still have a response to IFN beta-1b, which is the only IFN beta approved for both relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS.¹⁴

IFN beta has a good safety profile, with no major adverse events, and is generally well tolerated. The most frequent side effects are injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms that decrease in intensity over time in the majority of patients. Blood alterations such as lymphopenia could occur with IFN beta treatment, and elevated liver enzymes have been reported.⁸ Moreover, thyroid dysfunction and some cases of thrombotic microangiopathy have been reported in association with the use of IFN beta.^19,20

However, the need for frequent (weekly, at a minimum) administration of the drug (depending on the specific type) could be inconvenient and uncomfortable for some patients and could reduce their adherence to and persistence with treatment.

A recent review systematically evaluated the tolerability of and adherence to MS therapies, analyzing data from both randomized controlled trials and observational studies.²¹ For IFN beta, the most common adverse events were flu-like symptoms and injection site reactions, and the mean discontinuation rates ranged from 16% to 27%. Although no differences in the tolerability or adherence data from randomized controlled trials and observational studies were observed, the frequency of side effects continued to be high in long-term studies, and drug suspensions accumulated over time.²¹

PEGylation

One way to decrease the dose frequency while maintaining efficacy is to conjugate IFN beta with polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEGylation of IFN is done by covalently joining a PEG molecule to an IFN molecule. PEGylation has been applied to several drugs for different diseases to increase drug stability, solubility, half-life, and efficacy.²²

If the protein is small, PEGylation is optimal because it reduces the renal clearance and improves the half-life of the protein. PEGylation can cause loss of biological activity in large, unstable proteins. Thus, PEGylation is not recommended in every case.²³ Although infrequent, anti-PEG antibodies have been observed. When repeated chronic doses of PEGylated proteins are given, anti-PEG antibodies may potentially increase the clearance of proteins attached to PEG.²⁴

Currently, more than ten PEGylated products are marketed, including pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-2a and alpha-2b for the treatment of hepatitis C and certolizumab pegol with the parent drug anti-TNF Fab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. Further, PEGylated IFN beta-1a was tested with or without ribavirin in hepatitis C, yielding improvements in liver biopsies.²⁵

Studies of PEG-IFN in animals

IFN beta contains a relatively small, 166 amino acid, single-chain 22.5 kDa glycoprotein with a half-life of 10 hours. Thus, to optimize IFN therapy in MS, PEGylation is a suitable method. A set of over 20 site-selective mono-PEGylated or multi-PEGylated IFN beta-1b bioconjugates were studied by Basu et al²⁶ in mice and rats with regard to stability, solubility, aggregation, immunogenicity, and in vivo exposure of recombinant human IFN beta-1b. Selected PEGylated IFN beta-1b compounds showed a reduced humoral response with decreased immunoglobulin G and an expanded area under the curve (AUC) exposure with respect to IFN beta-1b.

Another study conducted by Mager et al evaluated the subcutaneous administration of 4 kDa PEG-IFN beta-1a in monkeys and revealed increased exposure and pharmacological activity similar to that of standard IFN beta-1a.²⁷

PEG-IFN preparations for MS in development

Several PEG-IFN beta preparations are in development,²⁸ including ARX-424 (Merck Serono with Ambrx Inc) and the recombinant human IFN beta BaroFeron™ (BaroFold Inc). The latter showed acceptable safety and tolerability profiles in a recent Phase I trial.²⁵ PEG-IFN beta-1b NU400, derived from aggregate-free IFN NU100 (identical to BaroFeron), recently entered a Phase I trial. A subcutaneously administered site-specific PEGylated form of human IFN beta-1b (AZ01, Allozyne Inc) is under evaluation in a multiple ascending dose Phase IB trial for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS.²⁸ Preliminary results suggest that the drug was well tolerated, while causing the well-known side effects of IFN beta.²⁸

PEG-IFN beta-1a

Phase III studies of PEG-IFN beta-1a (developed by Biogen Idec) were recently concluded, and the drug received positive recommendations in the summer of 2014 as a treatment for relapsing-remitting MS by the International authorities in the USA and Europe (US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency, respectively).

PEG-IFN beta-1a is obtained by adding a 20 kDa methoxy- PEG-O-2-methylpropionaldehyde to the alpha amino group of the IFN beta-1a N-terminus.²⁹ In vitro PEG-IFN beta-1a testing showed approximately 50% activity in antiviral and antiproliferative assays. However, its activity in vivo (mouse model) was enhanced when compared with IFN beta-1a. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics and biological activity of PEG-IFN beta-1a were improved in animal models (rats and rhesus monkeys).²⁹

PEG-IFN beta-1a was then studied in two randomized, blinded Phase I studies²⁹ in healthy volunteers: a single-dose study comparing IFN beta-1a (30 μg intramuscularly) with PEG-IFN beta-1a at different dosages (63, 125, or 188 μg intramuscularly or subcutaneously) in 60 individuals;²⁹ and a multiple-dose study comparing PEG-IFN beta-1a administered subcutaneously once every 2 or 4 weeks versus placebo in 69 individuals.²⁹ In these studies, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and immune activity, safety, and tolerability measures were assessed.

PEG-IFN beta-1a exposure increased proportionally to the dose; the exposure of PEG-IFN beta-1a was fourfold greater at 63 μg (6 MIU) than that of IFN beta-1a at 30 μg (6 MIU).²⁹ Immunological effects, including neopterin and 2′,5′-OAS levels and changes in T-helper cell pathway gene expression and lymphocyte subsets, were dose-dependent and larger and more persistent with PEG-IFN beta-1a than with IFN beta-1a.²⁹

The peak pharmacological effect was at 12 hours for PEG-IFN beta-1a versus 6 hours for IFN beta-1a. Additionally, the activity of PEG-IFN beta-1, measured by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a cell-based antiviral cytopathic effect bioassay, was detectable in the blood for ≤7 days compared with 2 days for IFN beta-1a. Further, the response was sustained for up to 15 days for PEG-IFN beta-1a and 4 days for IFN beta-1a.²⁹

In both studies, PEG-IFN beta-1a had a good safety and tolerability profile; no serious adverse events occurred, and no patients discontinued their trial medication because of adverse events. No differences in adverse events were observed between PEG-IFN (88%–100%) and INF beta (92%).²⁹

The most frequent side effect was the typical flu-like syndrome, which appears to be dose-dependent but decreases after recurrent dosing. Notably, the flu-like syndrome persisted after repeated dosing with 188 μg PEG-IFN beta-1a given every 4 weeks. A more frequent transient reduction in absolute number of neutrophils (>1,500 cells/mm³) was observed with PEG-IFN administered every 2 weeks versus 4 weeks, as well as with IFN beta. The neutropenia generally resolved 2 weeks after drug administration. Elevated liver enzymes were observed in both studies, but the levels were generally below the threefold upper limit, with a mean increase of 1.2–1.3.

Using a cell-based neutralizing antibody assay to detect binding or neutralizing IFN beta antibodies, the serum samples from subjects included in the studies tested negative.²⁹

Prior to the first dose, six subjects were found to be anti-PEG antibody-positive, and no increases in titer were observed during the study. Five individuals developed anti-PEG antibodies during the study, but considering their rarity, their effect was unclear.

In the single-dose study, no differences between subcutaneous and intramuscular dose administration were observed. Considering that subcutaneous administration is better tolerated and considered more convenient by patients, this route was chosen for the Phase III study.

The 125 μg PEG-IFN dose yielded 50% less exposure than the 188 μg dose, but biological marker (neopterin) levels were only slightly lower. This dose was better tolerated compared with the 188 μg dose in terms of severity of flu-like symptoms, injection site reactions, and blood test abnormalities. Therefore, the 125 μg dose was chosen for the Phase III clinical study. Compared with the standard IFN beta-1a dose (30 μg intramuscularly) administered once weekly, the subcutaneously administered 125 μg PEG-IFN beta-1a showed a 5.4-fold higher AUC when administered every 2 weeks and a 2.7-fold higher AUC when administered every 4 weeks.²⁹

The degrees of renal impairment in the pharmacokinet-ics of PEG-IFN after a single dose (63 μg or 125 μg) were studied, with the results showing that the AUC and peak plasma concentration were similar for healthy subjects and patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis. Thus, dose adjustment in subjects with renal impairment is not mandatory.³⁰

Phase III ADVANCE study

The first clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of PEG-IFN beta-1a in relapsing-remitting MS is ADVANCE study (Efficacy and Safety Study of BIIB017),³¹ which is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00906399).³¹ ADVANCE is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind (for the first year) and dose-blind (for the second year), parallel-group, multicenter study with 183 sites in 26 countries.

At the beginning of the study, 1,516 patients with relapsing-remitting MS were randomized (via an interactive voice response or web system and stratified by site) into three treatment arms (1:1:1) as follows: PEG-IFN beta-1a at a dose of 125 μg every 2 weeks (PEG-IFN 2w), PEG-IFN beta-1a at a dose of 125 μg every 4 weeks (PEG-IFN 4w) and placebo. Prefilled syringes were provided to the patients for the duration of the study. The inclusion criteria were: age 18–65 years, relapsing-remitting MS, an EDSS score of ≤5.0, and at least two relapses during the previous 3 years, with at least one in the preceding year. The exclusion criteria comprised secondary progressive MS, presence of laboratory abnormalities, previous treatment with IFN beta for MS for more than 4 weeks, or discontinuation of IFN beta after less than 6 months.

Patients who were initially randomized into the placebo group were rerandomized into one of the treatment arms of the study at the end of the first year (48 weeks) to receive either the low (4 weeks) or high (2 weeks) frequency PEG- IFN treatment.³²

The primary endpoint of the study was the ARR at 1 year (48 weeks). Secondary outcomes were the total number of new or newly enlarging MRI T2 lesions, the proportion of patients with relapses, and progression of disability (variation of the EDSS) at 48 weeks. Tertiary endpoints were the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions, new T1 hypointense lesions, new active lesions (gadolinium lesions plus new or enlarging T2 lesions), volumes of new enlarging lesions, T1 gadolinium-positive lesions, T1 hypointense lesions, brain atrophy, and the magnetization transfer ratio.³¹

Of the 1,936 patients originally screened for ADVANCE, 1,512 received at least one dose of the study medication. Of these, 512 were randomized to PEG-IFN 2w, 500 to PEG-IFN 4w, and 500 to placebo. In total, 88% (1,332 patients) completed the first 48 weeks of the study.³¹

The adjusted ARRs were 0.397 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.328–0.481) in the placebo arm, 0.256 (95% CI 0.206–0.318) in the PEG-IFN 2w arm, and 0.288 (95% CI 0.234–0.355) in the PEG-IFN 4w arm, with a reduction in ARR compared with the placebo arm of 35.6% (P<0.001) and 27.5% (P<0.02), respectively, in the PEG-IFN 2w and 4w arms.³¹

The risk of 12-week confirmed sustained disability progression was reduced by 38% (P<0.04) in both active treatment arms versus the placebo arm. The proportion of patients who experienced a relapse was reduced by 39% (P<0.001) in the PEG-IFN 2w arm and 26% (P<0.03) in the PEG-IFN 4w arm.

The number of new or newly enlarged T2 lesions observed by brain MRI was reduced by 67% (P<0.001) in the PEG-IFN 2w arm and 28% (P<0.001) in the PEG-IFN 4w arm at 48 weeks.³¹ PEG-IFN 2w reduced the number of new or newly enlarged T2 hyperintense lesions versus both placebo and PEG-IFN 4w at both 24 (61% and 51%, respectively, P<0.0001) and 48 (67% and 54%, respectively, P<0.0001) weeks.³³ Results on the primary and secondary endpoints are summarized in the table 1. PEG-IFN 2w also significantly reduced the number of new T1 hypointense, gadolinium-positive lesions and new active (gadolinium-positive plus non-enhancing new T2) lesions (all P<0.0001), as well as the volumes of T2 and T1 lesions (P<0.05) at 24 and 48 weeks versus placebo and PEG-IFN 4w.³³

Table 1 Primary and secondary endpoints of the ADVANCE trial

	First year			Second year
	PEG-IFN 2 weeks	PEG-IFN 4 weeks	Placebo	PEG-IFN 2 weeks	PEG-IFN 4 weeks	Delayed PEG-IFN
Total number	512	500	500	512	500	500
Annualized relapse rate (95% CI)	0.256 (0.206–0.318)	0.288 (0.234–0.355)	0.397 (0.328–0.481)	0.221 (0.183–0.267)	0.291 (0.244–0.348)	0.35 (0.295–0.418)
Proportion of patients with a relapse
Number	90	105	142	124	158	192
Proportion	0.187	0.222	0.291	0.265	0.344	0.402
Disability progression (12 weeks confirmed)
Number	31	31	50	51	56	75
Proportion	0.068	0.068	0.105	0.112	0.123	0.162
New or newly enlarging T2 lesion
Number of patients evaluated	457	462	476	407	389	393
Adjusted mean lesion number	3.6	7.9	10.9	5.0	12.5	14.8

Notes: Results for the first³¹ and second year³² are presented. Reprinted from Lancet Neurol, 13, Calabresi PA, Kieseier BC, Arnold DL, et al. ADVANCE Study Investigators. Pegylated interferon β-1a for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (ADVANCE): a randomised, Phase 3, double-blind study. 657–665., Copyright (2014), with permission from Elsevier.³¹ Reprinted from Kieseier BC, Arnold DL, Balcer LJ, et al. Peginterferon beta-1a in multiple sclerosis: 2-year results from ADVANCE. Mult Scler. Copyright ^© 2014. Reprinted by Permission of SAGE.³²

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; PEG-IFN, polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated interferon.

A post hoc analysis was then performed to evaluate the effect of PEG-IFN when assessing for “no evidence of disease activity”, defined as the absence of clinical (any relapses and confirmed disability progression at 12 weeks) or MRI (new or newly enlarging T2 hyperintense and gadolinium-positive lesions) disease activity.³³ Significantly more patients in the PEG-IFN 2w arm had no evidence of disease activity versus the placebo and PEG-IFN 4w arms (all P<0.01) from baseline to week 24 (41.0% versus 21.9% and 30.7%; odds ratio 2.47 and 1.57), from week 24 to week 48 (60.2% versus 28.9% and 36.6%; odds ratio 3.71 and 2.62) and from baseline to week 48 (33.9% versus 15.1% and 21.5%; odds ratio 2.89 and 1.87).³³

Adverse events were reported by 417 (83%) patients taking placebo, 481 (94%) taking PEG-IFN 2w, and 472 (94%) taking PEG-IFN 4w.³¹ The most common adverse events accompanying PEG-IFN were injection site reactions, flu-like symptoms, pyrexia, and headaches. Flu-like symptoms were the most common adverse event leading to treatment discontinuation in the PEG-IFN groups. The most common serious adverse events were relapse and infections (≤1% in each treatment group);³¹ their frequencies were similar in both PEG-IFN groups. Specifically, these adverse events were present in 53 (11%) patients taking placebo, 90 (18%) patients taking PEG-IFN 2w, and 82 (16%) patients taking PEG-IFN 4w. Reduced hematological parameters and increased liver enzymes were more commonly observed in the active treatment arms than in the placebo arm, but no drug discontinuation occurred due to blood alterations.³¹ Neutralizing antibodies against IFN beta-1a developed in a small proportion of patients and were generally transient.³¹

Results for the second year of ADVANCE

At the end of the first year (48 weeks), patients randomized to placebo were rerandomized into one of the active treatment arms (228 in each group). Patients already included in one of the PEG-IFN arms continued treatment at the same dosing regimen for the rest of the study (438 in each group). The discontinuation rate due to adverse events was similar between dosing regimens (6% in each arm).³²

The ARR was further reduced in the second year in the PEG-IFN 2w arm (0.230 at 1 year and 0.178 at 2 years) and was maintained in the PEG-IFN 4w arm (0.286 at 1 year and 0.291 at 2 years). The number of new or newly enlarged lesions was lower in the second year versus the first year in both the PEG-IFN 2w (1.9 versus 4.1) and PEG-IFN 4w (5.6 versus 9.4) arms.³²

Comparing patients who started the active treatment at the beginning of the study (continuous PEG-IFN) in the first year with those who started PEG-IFN later (delayed PEG-IFN), the greater efficacy of early treatment was evident.³² In particular, the ARR was 0.351 for delayed treatment, 0.021 for PEG-IFN 2w, and 0.291 for PEG-IFN 4w. The post hoc analysis showed an ARR reduction of 37% (P<0.0001) for PEG-IFN 2w and of 17% (P=0.0906) for PEG-IFN 4w versus delayed treatment.³² The proportion of patients who relapsed in the 2 years was 0.42 for delayed treatment and 0.265 and 0.344 for PEG-IFN 2w and 4w, respectively. Thus, the risk of relapse was reduced by 39% (P<0.0001) in the PEG-IFN 2w arm and 19% (P=0.0465) in the PEG-IFN 4w arm.³²

The 12-week disability progression was reduced by 33% (P=0.0257) in the PEG-IFN 2w arm and 25% (P=0.0960) in the PEG-IFN 4w arm. At 24 weeks, disability progression was reduced by 41% (P=0.0137) for PEG-IFN 2w and by 9% (P=0.6243) for PEG-IFN 4w.³² Moreover, patients treated with continuous versus delayed PEG-IFN presented fewer new T2 or newly enlarged lesions after 2 years (reduction of 67% and 16% for PEG-IFN 2w and 4w, respectively). The number of gadolinium-positive lesions was also reduced with continuous PEG-IFN 2w compared with delayed PEG-IFN 2w (0.2 versus 0.5; P=0.0002).³²

Comparison of the PEG-IFN 2w and PEG-IFN 4w dose regimens revealed a better effect of PEG-IFN 2w. In particular, the ARR was 0.221 in the PEG-IFN 2w arm and 0.29 in the PEG-IFN 4w arm, with the advantage of a 24% reduction for PEG-IFN 2w versus the PEG-IFN 4w.³² Additionally, the risk of relapse was reduced by 24% (P=0.0212) in the PEG-IFN 2w arm when compared to the PEG-IFN 4w arm. Hazard ratios indicated that PEG-IFN 2w reduced the risk of confirmed disability progression at 12 weeks by 11% (P=0.5665) and at 24 weeks by 36% (P=0.0459) compared with PEG-IFN 4w.³² Over 2 years, the PEG-IFN 2w arm had 60% (P<0.0001) fewer new or newly enlarged hyperintense T2 lesions and a reduced number of gadolinium-positive lesions by approximately 71% (P<0.0001) compared with the PEG-IFN 4w arm.³²

Results on the primary and secondary endpoints are summarized in the Table 1. The incidence of adverse events over 2 years was similar (approximately 94%) between the PEG-IFN treatment groups. The most commonly reported events were injection site reactions, flu-like symptoms, pyrexia, and headaches.³² The adverse events were generally mild or moderate, and the incidence of severe adverse events was similar between the two PEG-IFN dosing groups (21% and 20%, respectively, for PEG-IFN 2w and 4w). The incidence of adverse events during the second year was similar to that in the first year.³² Nine deaths were reported over the 2-year study period, but none were considered to be related to PEG-IFN. In the second year, less than 10% of patients presented significant abnormalities in white blood cell counts, lymphocyte counts, and absolute neutrophil counts. The majority of hepatic transaminase elevations were less than three times the upper limit of normal. Moreover, for both dosing regimens, abnormal values for hepatic or hematological laboratory parameters returned to normal at the end of year 2.³² The incidence of anti-IFN neutralizing antibodies was <1% in both the PEG-IFN 2w and 4w arms, and antibodies against PEG-IFN were present in 8% and 6% of patients in the PEG-IFN 2w and 4w arms, respectively.³²

Extension study (ATTAIN)

At the end of the core study (2 years), patients were invited to enter into the extension trial, ie, ATTAIN (Long-Term Safety and Efficacy Study of BIIB017), a 2-year-long, open-label, dose frequency blinded study. Data are not yet available because the study is ongoing. A substudy evaluated a single-use autoinjector for PEG-IFN versus prefilled syringes in a small group of 39 patients, and showed that patients preferred the autoinjector for its convenience.³⁴

A warning from animal studies and other PEG formulations

In Sprague-Dawley rats (male and female), daily intravenous doses of PEG-linked tumor necrosis factor-binding protein for 3 months caused vacuolation of the renal cortical tubular epithelium.³⁵ The kidney lesions only partially recovered after 2 months, in the absence of changes in kidney function tests. Similar lesions were observed with other PEG-linked proteins of similar weight.³⁶ The majority of tubular vacuolation occurred in animals exposed to doses several times higher than those administered in clinical practice.^35,36

Discussion and conclusion

The therapeutic landscape for MS is rapidly changing, and several new drugs have reached the market or will likely reach the market in the near future. This situation is exciting for MS specialists because, to date, the response to available drugs has been suboptimal due to the heterogeneity of the disease. An enriched armament will bring new opportunities for individualized treatment but will also generate new challenges regarding efficacy and safety issues in the long term, and detailed discussions with patients about the risk/benefit balance before treatment decisions will become more and more important. Some drugs, such as fingolimod, natalizumab, and mitoxantrone, considered as second-line therapies, potentially offer greater efficacy but are burdened by an increased risk of serious adverse events. While the first-line therapies, ie, IFN beta and glatiramer acetate, have well-established efficacy and good long-term safety profiles, they come with disturbing and uncomfortable side effects in addition to the need for frequent administration via an unpleasant route. Considering that these aspects could lead MS patients to reduce their adherence to and persistence with treatment, optimization of treatment with IFN beta by PEGylation has recently been proposed. PEGylation of IFN beta molecules improves the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile by increasing the half-life while also maintaining efficacy. The addition of a PEG molecule to IFN beta increases the size of the molecule, thereby increasing the persistence of the drug in the circulation by decreasing the rate of kidney clearance or reducing proteolysis and opsonization and leading to an increased half-life and drug efficacy.²⁹

Recently, PEG-IFN beta-1a, administered by two injections every 2 weeks, has been recommended for use in patients with relapsing-remitting MS by international authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration in the USA and the European Medicines Agency in Europe. PEG-IFN beta-1a at a dose of 125 μg taken every 2 or 4 weeks was tested in two Phase I studies in healthy subjects and shown to be at least as safe and effective as the current IFN beta-1a administered intramuscularly.²⁹

The effect of treating relapsing-remitting MS patients with 125 μg PEG-IFN every 2 or 4 weeks (subcutaneously) was tested in the Phase III ADVANCE study, showing in the first year a reduction of the ARR by approximately one-third compared with placebo, and slight but significant reductions in sustained disability progression and in several MRI activity measures were also shown.^31–33

The efficacy data^31–33 seem to be similar to those observed in the pivotal trials of IFN beta,^3–7 suggesting a similar effect of PEG-IFN. However, it should be kept in mind that “head to head” or “not inferiority” trials comparing PEG-IFN with IFN beta directly have not been performed yet. Moreover, the comparison of trials performed in different decades could be misleading because the clinical and diagnostic characteristics of the MS patients included in the studies have changed over time.^37,38

Additionally, a post hoc analysis performed during the first 48 weeks of ADVANCE showed that significantly more patients with relapsing-remitting MS receiving PEG-IFN every 2 weeks had no evidence of disease activity.³³ Further, results from the second year of ADVANCE showed a greater reduction in all endpoints with dosing every 2 weeks versus every 4 weeks. The effects of PEG-IFN taken every 2 weeks appeared to increase in the second year; this was a surprising observation in contrast to the effects of IFN beta.³²

The drug was well tolerated, with the most common adverse events being flu-like symptoms, redness, injection site reactions, and headache. The rate of serious adverse events was low, with a frequency of severe infection of less than 1%.^28,29 No cases of thyroid dysfunction or thrombotic microangiopathy were observed in ADVANCE.^31–33 The safety and tolerability profile of PEG-IFN seems to be similar to that of IFN beta, but it is noteworthy that no data from Phase IV trials or observational studies or long-term information are actually available. Notably, the chronic administration of toxic concentrations of PEGylated proteins caused vacuolation of the renal epithelium in animals.^35,36 No evidence of such damage was observed with PEG-IFN beta-1a in humans, but a careful monitoring program is advisable.^31–33

In conclusion, due to its frequency of administration, along with its good efficacy and safety profiles, PEG-IFN beta-1a represents a suitable therapeutic option for patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.