Betaferon and Avonex in head-to-head MS trial

pharmafile | October 29, 2003 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing  

Schering AG is to launch the largest ever therapeutic multiple sclerosis trial, comparing its drug Betaferon with Biogen's rival Avonex.

The ABOVE study will look at the effect on MS patients of switching from once-weekly Avonex to high-dose, high-frequency Betaferon their current dosing regimens over two years.

The trials will be conducted by Schering's US subsidiary, Berlex Laboratories, and will take place in more than 75 centres across the US. Patient enrolment will begin straight away and will continue into 2004.

The FDA recently approved an expanded new label for Betaferon, known as Betaseron in the US. The drug is now indicated for all relapsing forms of MS, which include relapsing-remitting the most common and secondary progressive MS with relapses.

Last year, Avonex became the first MS drug to exceed sales of $1 billion, and has over half of the US market share. Sales of Betaferon rose 15% to E783 million ($830 million) while Serono Rebif generated $548 million, up 45%.

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