Serono’s Rebif guidelines updated

Serono, the Swiss pharmaceutical company, has revealed that the European Commission has approved an update to the summary of product characteristics for Rebif, a drug used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

This means that the guidance for the use of Rebif has been updated to reflect current medical practice and now reflects the McDonald criteria, which is the current reference for the diagnosis of MS.

When Rebif was first approved, the drug was prescribed for patients who had more than two attacks. The McDonald criteria allows Rebif to be prescribed after just one attack with MRI evidence, as current medical opinion indicates that patients should receive treatment as soon as MS is diagnosed. The European Commission’s ruling affects all EU countries selling Rebif, including the UK.

Roberto Gradnik, Serono’s senior vice-president of Europe, said he was delighted with the European Commission’s decision.

He remarked: “MS has an initial stage when clinical manifestations are not pronounced but irreversible neurological damage is taking place.”

“This neurological damage determines the relative risk of progression of the disease. People with MS living in Europe will be able to benefit from the proven efficacy of Rebif as soon as MS is diagnosed, when it is needed most,” he added.

Rebif was first approved in Europe in 1998 and 2002 in the US, where it is co-marketed by Pfizer.

Last month, the UK’s Peninsula Medical School announced it was looking to recruit 500 patients for what it describes as the first trial to investigate whether cannabis-derived drugs could slow the progression of MS.

Professor John Zajucek said the research was necessary since few drugs are effective in treating MS and that none have been shown to have any effect in the progressive phases of the disease.

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