LONDON, UK -- August 3, 2007 -- Early treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with interferon beta-1b can prevent the disabling development of the condition, conclude authors of an article published in this week's edition of The Lancet.
Professor Ludwig Kappos University Hospital Petersgraben, Basle, Switzerland, and colleagues, as part of the BENEFIT study, did a study of 468 patients who had shown early symptoms of MS.
The study randomised 292 patients to receive 250 mcg interferon beta-1b and 176 to receive placebo, subcutaneously every other day for 2 years, or until they were diagnosed with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS). After diagnosis of CDMS or completion of 2 years of treatment, the patients were then eligible to enter a follow-up phase to receive interferon beta-1b treatment.
Of the patients originally enrolled, 89% entered the follow-up phase, while 84% completed the 3 years of postrandomisation follow-up (2 years in initial phase, 1 year follow-up phase).
The study measured patients' disability status using the expanded disability status scale and found that early treatment with interferon beta-1b reduced the risk for progression of disability by 40% compared with delayed treatment.
Whilst 51% of patients in the delayed-treatment group developed CDMS, only 37% of the patients who received early treatment with interferon beta-1b developed CDMS. Thus early treatment reduced the risk of developing CDMS by 41%.
The authors conclude: "Our data suggest that early initiation of treatment with interferon-1b prevents the development of confirmed disability, supporting its use after the first manifestation of relapsing-remitting MS."
In an accompanying comment, Dr. Sean Pittock, Mayo Clinic of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA, says: "Kappos and colleagues have set a new standard against which future extension trials will be compared."
He concludes: "The results should, however, be interpreted with care because the magnitude of benefit, although significant, is clinically small. This follow-up should not be misconstrued as evidence for a treat all approach."
SOURCE: The Lancet
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