Merck Serono initiates MS treatment study

Merck KGaA has announced that Merck Serono has begun the oral cladribine added on to Rebif (interferon beta-1a) new formulation in patients with active relapsing study, a phase II clinical trial investigating the use of the compounds as an add-on treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Orally-administered cladribine is currently being evaluated as part of the Clarity phase III clinical trial as a first-line treatment for relapsing forms of MS, while Rebif is being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency.

Bruno Musch, heard of neurology clinical development at Merck Serono, said: “Multiple sclerosis patients with signs of active disease while on treatment with a disease-modifying drug may benefit from adding another agent with a different mechanism of action.”

He added that such a move could enhance the efficacy of the treatment while maintaining a satisfactory safety and tolerability profile.

The company predicts that cladribine has potential as an adjunctive therapy for MS patients showing possible signs of active relapsing while already being treated with another compound.

Earlier this month, Merck Serono completed the enrolment of patients in its Cladribine tablets treating MS orally phase III clinical study, which was described as a major landmark in the development of the compound.