According to 21-year trial data presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis congress, Bayer’s Betaferon (interferon beta-1b) helped patients with the disease live longer when taken soon after the onset of the disease, compared to those who received placebo. Lead researcher Anthony Reder said the results are "the first strong survival evidence in MS," adding that over the 21-year study period, early use of Betaferon "may be able to prevent one death for every eight patients treated."
The trial originally randomised 372 patients with MS to receive either Bayer's drug or placebo, with an average duration of treatment of 3.8 years. Of the 366 patients researchers tracked down after approximately 21 years, those who received Betaferon soon after diagnosis were 39 percent less likely have died than those who were given placebo. The company said the data also "reaffirm Betaferon's favorable benefit to risk profile for up to two decades of use."
The drug was approved in the US in 1993, where it is sold as Betaseron, and generated around 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in global sales last year. However, Bayer expects revenue from the drug to drop between 5 percent and 10 percent this year due to competition from generic versions and newer drugs. Reder noted that the long-term data may help Bayer differentiate Betaferon from newer treatments such as Novartis' recently approved Gilenya (fingolimod). He added that the findings may also apply to other drugs from the same class, which include Merck KGaA’s Rebif (interferon beta-1a) and Biogen Idec's Avonex (interferon beta-1a).
Reference Articles
21-year long-term follow-up study demonstrates significant survival advantage with Betaferon treatment - (Bayer)
Bayer’s Betaferon extends lives, 21-year follow-up study finds - (Bloomberg)
Bayer: Betaferon long-term study shows clear survival advantage -
**Published in "First Word"
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