Bayer publishes results from Beyond study

Bayer has this week published the results of its Beyond study assessing the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a 500 mcg dose of Betaferon (interferon beta-1b) as a treatment for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis when compared to those receiving 250 mcg of the drug in conjunction with Copaxone (glatiramer acetate).

The company reports that the risk for relapses – the primary endpoint of the trial – was comparable in both patient groups, with no statistically significant superiority exhibited in those patients receiving the 500 mcg dose of Betaferon.

Bayer reports that, as a consequence of these results, it will not file the 500 mcg dose of the drug with the regulatory authorities and the intangible assets from the Beyond project have been deprecated.

Dr Douglas S Goodin, professor of neurology at the University of California, said: “Results of the Beyond study confirm the high efficacy, excellent tolerability and low drop-out rate for Betaferon.

“The standard Betaferon 250 mcg dose is the optimal Betaferon dose for treatment-naive patients.”

He added that there remains data from the Beyond study that is yet to be analysed, with this information potentially helpful in increasing the available knowledge regarding multiple sclerosis and how to treat it.

Earlier this month, Bayer presented the results from the Benefit study to the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS, with the company reporting that patients receiving Betaferon experienced a delay in the progression of disability.