[Efficacy and safety of sampeginterferon ß-1a in the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: results of 52 weeks of therapy in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial]. / Effektivnost' i bezopasnost' sampeginterferona ß-1a dlya lecheniya remittiruyushchego rasseyannogo skleroza: rezul'taty 52-nedel'nogo randomizirovannogo dvoinogo slepogo klinicheskogo issledovaniya.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of samPEG-IFN-ß1a 180 µg and 240 µg administered once every 2 weeks for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) compared to placebo and low dose interferon beta-1a (LIB) 30 µg administered once weekly. The primary endpoint after 52 weeks of therapy was the time to first relapse, the hypotheses of non-inferiority and superiority to LIB were tested. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This international, multicenter, double blind, comparative, placebo-controlled clinical study enrolled 399 patients with the diagnosis of RRMS, randomized in 4 groups: samPEG-IFN-ß1a180 µg (n=114), samPEG-IFN-ß1a 240 µg (n=114), LIB (n=114) and placebo (n=57). Placebo group patients participated in the study for 20 weeks. After 52 weeks of therapy and 4 weeks of follow-up, LIB group patients completed their participation in the study, patients from PEG-IFN-ß1a groups continued to receive therapy until week 100 inclusive. The article presents the results of an analysis conducted after the end of 52 weeks of a double-blind, comparative, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. RESULTS: Final analysis of the efficacy and safety was performed after 52 weeks of study. Main statistical hypothesis testing proved that both doses of samPEG-IFN-ß1a were equally effective when compared to LIB by the primary endpoint - «Time to first relapse¼. Due to detection of statistically significant differences in the primary endpoint between the study drug and the reference drug, indicating a greater efficacy of the study drug, an additional testing was carried out and the hypothesis of superiority of samPEG-IFN-ß1a at a dose of 240 µg over the reference LIB was proved. Evaluation of the dynamics of certain key parameters of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and clinical outcomes demonstrated a positive effect of samPEG-IFN-ß1a therapy in the form of decreased activity of the demyelinating process in the brain and reduce the number of relapses. The proportion of patients without new T2 lesions after 52 weeks was 87.6% and 90.4% in 180 µg and 240 µg samPEG-IFN-ß1a groups, versus 72.6% in the LIB group (p=0.0199 and p=0.0033). No progression of multiple sclerosis was shown based on EDSS scale evaluation. During the study, the most common adverse reactions were flu-like symptoms and injection site reactions. CONCLUSION: The new drug samPEG-IFN-ß1a is an effective and safe agent for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis treatment, while having an advantage over other low-dose interferons in the form of reduced frequency of intramuscular injections.

[The new pegylated interferon beta-1a (sampeginterferon beta-1a, BCD-054) in the treatment of remitting multiple sclerosis]. / Novyi pegilirovannyi interferon beta-1a (sampéginterferon beta-1a, BCD-054) v terapii remittiruiushchego rasseiannogo skleroza.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCD 054 180 µg and 240 µg administered once every 2 weeks for the treatment of remitting multiple sclerosis compared to placebo and low dose interferon beta-1a (LIB) 30 µg administered once weekly. Results of a 20 week blinded interim analysis from a double blind, comparative, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical study are included. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multinational, multicentre, double blind, comparative, placebo-controlled study enrolled 399 patients with the diagnosis of remitting multiple sclerosis: 114 patients in the sampeginterferon beta 1a and LIB groups each and 57 patients in the placebo group. To ensure the objectivity of data, the study protocol includes a blinded interim analysis to demonstrate the superiority of BCD 054 over placebo based on the number of combined unique active lesions (CUA) on MRI scans after 20 weeks of treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: An integrated analysis of the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics was performed after 20 weeks of study. Mean CUA per scan was lower in the active treatment groups compared to placebo: 0,986±2,046, 0,619±1,055, 0,665±1,165, 1,673±2,376 (groups 1, 2, 3 and placebo group, respectively). The data for CUA per scan demonstrated the superiority of both BCD 054 180 µg and 240 µg over placebo. Patients receiving active treatment had fewer new and/or enlarging lesions after 20 weeks of treatment. The proportion of patients without new T2-weighted lesions was 74,3%, 86,7%, and 78,1% in groups 1, 2, and 3 compared to 64,9% in the placebo group. Manifestations of flu-like syndrome that is expected for interferon treatment were observed with the same incidence in all the active treatment groups. Its severity, duration or the need for symptomatic treatment did not appear to depend on the type of interferon used.

Localized pigmentation disorder after subcutaneous pegylated interferon beta-1a injection.

We report the case of a 42-year-old female patient who developed peculiar skin lesions due to subcutaneous polyethylene glycol (PEG) interferon beta-1a. The dermatological examination showed hypochromic macules that had coalesced into a 10-cm-diameter patch. On the abdomen injection sites, there was a greyish diffuse hyperpigmentation arranged irregularly in annular macules. Fungal infection, vitiligo and pityriasis alba were excluded. After 6 months, the lesions had worsened. This is the first case of localized pigmentation disorder reported with interferon beta, and while the clinical findings are not ascribable to vitiligo or interferon-related facial/mucosal hyperpigmentation, they may partially share the underlining mechanisms.