Schering follow up study shows continued drug success

Schering AG has declared success during follow up trials of the drug Betaferon when used to treat patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

After carrying out a 16-year-long follow up study Schering have found the drug to be “consistently safe, effective and well tolerated” among patients.

Betaferon was also shown to reduce the rate of relapses among those who regularly took the drug for a sustained period of time by up to 40 per cent.

MS sufferers who participated in the study found the disease progressed at a much slower rate, compared to those who were not taking Betaferon long-term.

“This study has comprehensively re-evaluated patients after 16 years” said Professor George Ebers, lead investigator of the study, Department of Clinical Neurology, Radcliffe Infirmary, University of Oxford.

“The evidence for relapse rate reduction, combined with further support for long-term safety of Betaferon, is convincing. More studies are being done to further analyse the impact of treatment on disease progression.”

The 16-year study, the longest follow-up for any disease modifying therapy in MS, showed Betaferon was well accepted and had no negative effects on patients.

Betaferon is now being tipped to be used to help patients who suffer from relapsing MS.

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