New Rebif formulation launched in UK

Switzerland-based Merck Serono, a division of Germany's Merck KGaA, says that a new formulation of its multiple sclerosis drug Rebif (interferon beta-1a) has been made available in the UK. Late last year the BRIGHT trial, published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis, indicated that the product was associated with a greater occurrence of injection reactions than competitor treatments, including Bayer's Betaseron (interferon beta-1b; Marketletter November 12, 2007).

Merck said that data from a recent two-year Phase IIIb study, which enrolled 260 patients suffering from relapsing/remitting forms of the disease, indicated that the new Rebif formulation was associated with a near three-fold reduction in injection site reactions compared with the older version of the drug (30.8% versus 85.8%).

Commenting on the data, Gavin Giovannoni from the Royal London Hospital in the UK, said: "injection site reactions can lead to discontinuation of therapy in some [MS] patients; the notable reduction in these reactions with Rebif New Formulation has positive implications for tolerability and adherence."