Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Drugs

| Avonex | Betaseron | Betaferon | Copaxone | Rebif |

 

Rebif ® (interferon beta-1a)

What is Rebif ®?

Rebif ® is a drug used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is from a class of drugs known as interferons.

Interferon beta-1a is a recombinant DNA produced synthetic of naturally occurring proteins.

Interferons are cytokines. Three major classes of interferon have been identified - interferon alpha, interferon beta and interferon gamma. Interferon alpha and beta form the Type I class of interferons and Interferon gamma is a Type II interferon.

Interferons are species specific. The effects and results of interferon therapy and animal experimentation is difficult to apply across the human-animal species barriers since the effects they have within any given species are different.

The specific interferon-induced proteins and mechanisms by which interferon beta-1a exerts its effects in multiple sclerosis (MS) have not been fully defined.

Rebif ® is administered by subcutaneous injection (injection under the skin) three times weekly.

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple Sclerosis

Average age of clinical onset of Multiple Sclerosis is 30 – 33 years of age.

Early Symptoms

The nature of multiple sclerosis and the vagueness of a symptom appearing here or there over time, without any apparent connection means there is a lack of data on what can accurately be considered as early symptom of multiple sclerosis... Read More