Lancet
04/25/2002
By Harvey McConnell
High-dose interferon beta-1b administered every other day is more effective than interferon beta-1a once a week for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a two year multicenter study has found.
Dr Luca Durelli and colleagues at the Turin University Medical School, Turin, Italy, undertook this study in collaboration with colleagues at 15 other institutions in Italy. Until now, there has been no published research which directly compares the different regimens of interferon beta therapies.
The clinicians explain that efficacy of three different beta interferon products has been proved in multicenter controlled trials for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Recombinant beta interferons are produced in different cell systems, which results in some differences in their amino acid structure, molecular weight, degree of glycosylation, and specific activity, and which are tested against the antiviral activity of the World Health Organization's reference standard of human interferon beta.
Each drug is registered for use at different doses and different administration: interferon beta-1a 30 mcg administered intramuscularly once a week; interferon beta-1a 22 mcg or 44 mcg given subcutaneously three times a week; and interferon beta-1b 250 mcg administered subcutaneously on alternate days.
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